https://archive.org/details/lifeofrevdanielw1879mcne 


LIFE 


OF 


H 


v.DanielWhite 


WITH  INCIDENTS  IN 


SCOTLAND  AND  AMERICA. 


o 


> BY  DUNCAN  MCNEILL. 

^ - 

tA 


PUBLISHED  BY 

EDWARDS,  BROUGHTON  & CO.  : 
Raleigii,  N.  C. 


SCHOOL  OF  RELIGION 

PREFACE,  x 5 %**>  m 

^ z. 

Some  of  the  chapters  of  the  life  of  Rev.  Daniel  White 
were  published  in  the  Biblical  Recorder,  and  met  with 
such  a warm  reception  throughout  the  State,  and  were  so 
earnestly  called  for  by  many  in  book  form,  that  the  Author 
and  publishers  have  yielded  to  the  public  desire. 

Several  new  chapters  are  added,  and  the  Author  feels 
sure  that  the  haste  with  which  newspaper  articles  are 
usually  prepared  will  excuse  any  shortcoming  in  literary 
merit;  but  he  hopes  the  subject  matter  will  call  forth  the 
attention  and  claim  the  interest  it  so  richly  deserves. 
The  heroes  in  the  Faith — those  who  by  their  lives  and 
labors  have  been  instrumental  in  “turning  many  to 
righteousness” — deserve  to  shine,  as  the  stars,  forever. 
Greater  are  they  than  earth’s  heroes,  fighting  for  fame, 
freedom,  conquest  or  gain  ; for  the  fight  of  Christian  war- 
riors is  against  the  “powers  of  darkness,”  their  victories 
for  eternity,  and  every  soul  for  which  they  contend,  of 
greater  value  than  a world  ! 

Very  worthy,  too,  are  they  of  noblest  emulation  and  an 
abiding  place  in  the  hearts  and  homes  of  the  people;  fop 

“ Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us 
We  can  make  our  lives  sublime, 

And  departing,  leave  behind  us 
Footprints  on  the  sands  of  time  : 


4 


PREFACE. 


Footprints  that  perhaps  another, 

Sailing  o’er  life’s  solemn  main, 

A forlorn  and  shipwreck’d  brother, 

Seeing-,  shall  take  heart  again.” 

Whom  shall  we  hold  up  to  our  children  as  exemplars 
worthy  of  their  imitation — the  Ciceros,  Homers,  Alexanders 
and  Napoleons,  or  the  men  of  God,  who,  through  great  trib- 
ulations, stripes,  imprisonments,  spipwrecks,  and  to  death, 
have  kept  the  Faith,  and  fought  on  for  the  glory  of  God  in 
the  salvation  of  men  ? Which  would  they  prefer  for  them- 
selves and  children — -the  empty  pomps  and  vanities,  the 
perishing  wealth  and  distinctions,  which  this  world  can 
give  but  for  a brief  season,  or  the  Bible  promise  and  as- 
surance to  the  finally  faithful : “Blessed  are  they  that  do 
His  commandments,  that  they  may  have  right  to  the 
tree  of  life,  and  may  enter  in  through  the  gates  of  the 
city.”  “And  there  shall  be  no  night  there;  and  they 
need  no  candle,  neither  light  of  the  sun;  for  the  Lord 
God  giveth  them  light:  and  they  shall  reign  forever  and 
ever?  ” 

Let  us,  then,  teach  our  children,  and  seek  ourselves, 
{l  so  to  strive  that  we  may  win 

“ For  we  must  strive  if  we  would  win; 

Increase  our  courage.  Lord; 

We  ll  bear  the  cross,  endure  the  pain, 

Supported  by  thy  Word.” 


Montpelier,  July,  1879, 


AUTHOR. 


Life  of  Rev.  Daniel  White. 


CHAPTER  L 
Scotch  Character, 

Scotchmen,  throughout  all  the  ages,  have  maintained 
:a  character  in  strict  keeping  with  Scotland,  in  its  rugged, 
grand,  sublime,  bold  and  isolated  outline  of  scenery.  Her 
mountains,  lochs  and  heather-covered  hills  stand  unap- 
proached in  their  characteristics ; so,  too,  her  sons  and 
daughters  hold  a place  in  the  world’s  history  which  no 
other  nation  of  people  has  ever  filled.  Ho  Scotchman  is 
ashamed  of  his  land  or  race.  Wild  men  of  the  woods 
(the  translation  of  Caledonia)  they  have  been  ; but  even 
in  their  wildness,  they  were  unconquerable.  The  armies 
of  the  world— the  Romans  and  the  hosts  of  England — 
found  it  alike  futile  to  attempt  to  hold  them  in  subjection. 
Temporarily  they  might  yield  to  superior  force,  but  anon 
the  clans  would  unite,  forgetting  their  petty  feuds,  and 
descend  like  avalanches  from  their  native  heights  and 
bury,  crush  or  sweep  away  all  who  dared  oppose  them. 
Like  the  wild  rush  and  roar  of  their  mountain  torrents, 
was  their  fierce  and  resistless  onslaught!  History  and 
tradition  are  freighted  with  their  deeds  of  almost  super* 
human  valor.  Woe  to  the  nation  or  people  who  wronged 
them  or  dared  attempt  their  subjugation.  Superior  equip- 


6 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


merits,  strength  of  numbers,  formed  but  poor  barriers  in 
the  way  of  the  infuriated  Scots,  with  cross-bows,  battle- 
axes,  scythes  and  broadswords ; their  “ red  right  arms”' 
knew  no  abatement  till  either  raised  in  triumph  or  un- 
nerved in  death. 

With  them  it  was 

“ Scots  wbo  ha’  with  Wallace  block 
Scots  whom  Brace  lias  often  led. 

Welcome  to  a gory  bed, 

Or  to  victory  l 

Now’s  the  day  and  now’s  the  hour  I 

See  the  front  of  battle  lower  1 

See  approach  proud  Edward’s  powcr~~ 

Chains  and  slavery  ! 

Who  would  be  a traitor  knave  ? 

Who  so  base  as  be  a slave  ? 

Who  would  till  a coward’s  grave? 

Let  him  turn  and  lice  t 

Lay  the  proud  usurpers  low; — 

Tyrants  fall  in  every  foe  ! 

Liberty  in  every  blow  ! 

Let  us  do  or  die  ! 

As  in  war,  so  in  religion,  minstrelsy,  poetry,  prose,  his- 
tory and  the  arts.  Far  back  in  the  dim  corridors  of  the 
past,  echoed  the  songs  of  Ossian,  “ sweet,  yet  mournful  to 
the  soul,”  and  still  they  linger  about  the  iuglesides  of 
earth,  telling  of  Fingal  and  his  deeds.  In  poetry  and 
prose,  Sir  Walter  Scott,  Burns,  Campbell,  Atoun,  loom  up 
and  gladden  a listening  world.  In  history,  Macaulay, 
McPherson,  and  others  of  like  power  and  research,  glad,' 


SCUTCl I CHA K ACTER. 


7 


den  the  nations ; while  among  the  modem  writers  and 
philosophers,  her  gifted  sons  occupy  the  highest  posi- 
tions. 

The  student  of  Divinity  finds  here  the  ablest  expound- 
ers of  theology.  Here  have  lived  and  died  heroes  for  the 
Faith.  Here,  among  her  rocky  fastnesses  have  stood 
forth  the  ablest  divines — the  most  sturdy  reformers  and 
the  ablest  preachers  of  the  pure  Words  of  Eternal  Life. 
The  fear  and  love  of  God  are  not  more  apparent  in  any 
nation  of  the  globe  than  Scotland  to-day.  Travellers  tell 
us  that  Edinburgh,  its  capital  city,  is  like  a church  in  its 
sanctity  and  careful  observance  of  religious  rites  and  du- 
ties on  the  Sabbath  day.  Cooking  is  done  on  the  Satur- 
day previous ; public  conveyances  do  not  lumber  through 
the  streets ; cars  are  still ; no  door  for  drinking  allowed 
open  ; men,  women  and  children  wend  their  way  pleas- 
antly to  the  House  of  God  and  back  to  their  homes,  keep- 
ing the  Sabbath  day  holy,  and  by  their  demeanor,  walk 
and  conversation,  rendering  Holiness  to  the  Lord.  And 
as  in  the  chief  city,  so  in  the  towns,  villages,  hamlets  and 
granges  of  the  realm.  From  the  cradle,  the  children  are 
taught  that  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wis- 
dom; that  it  enduretli  forever;  and  to  honor  men  only 
for  genuine  worth,  merit  and  true  greatness  in  themselves, 
and  not  for  any  pomp,  pageantry  or  outer  show.  Thus 
reared,  it  is  small  wonder  that  Miss  Jane  Porter,  from  the 
school  of  nursery  tales,  should  be  able  to  give  to  the 
world  sdclx  books  as  “ William  Wallace  of  Scotland”  and 
“ Thaddeus  of  Warsaw,”  in  which  nobility  is  personified 
iii  the  characters  portrayed  ; little  wonder  that  her  sons. 


S' 


LIFE  OF  REV".  DANIEL  WHITE. 


tli  us  nurtured,  should  go  into  battle,  fearless  of  numbers, 
show  or  equipments,  but  trusting  implicitly  in  God  and 
the  right ! Nor  is  it  strange  that  they  would  return  “ with 
their  shields,  or  upon  them®  Little  wonder,  then,  that 
her  young  men,  thus  reared,  should,  when  brought  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  truth — to  genuine  repentance  for  sin 
and  an  unshaken  trust  in  the  crucified  Redeemer — -prove 
true  and  strong  in  their  entire  consecration  to  the  great 
work  of  giving  the  Gospel  to  the  world.  They  felt  the 
full  force  of  the  old  Scotch  hymn  : 

t.  Behold  what  witnesses  unseen 
Encompass  us  around  ; 

Men,  once  like  us  with  suffering  try’dl. 

But  now  with  glory  crown’d. 

2.  Let  ns,  with  zeal  like  theirs  inspir’d, 

Begin  the  Christian  race. 

And  freed  from  each  encumb’ring  weight. 

Their  holy  footsteps  trace. 

3.  Behold  a witness  nobler  still,. 

Who  trod  affliction’s  path, 

Jesus,  at  once  the  finisher 
And  author  of  our  faith. 

4.  He  for  the  joy  before  him  set, 

So  gen’rous  was  his  love, 

Endur’d  the  cross,  despis’d  the  shame-. 

And  now  be  reigns  above. 

5.  If  he  the  scorn  of  wicked  men 

With  patience  did  sustain, 

Becomes  it  those  lor  whom  he  dy’d 
To  murmur  or  complain  ? 

6.  Have  ye  like  him  to  blood,  to  death. 

The  cause  of  truth  maintain’d  ? 

And  is  your  heav’nly  Father’s  voice 
Forgotten  or  disdain’d  2 


scotch  oh  a i:  actek. 


9 


They  walked  by  Faith  and  in  the  light  of  the  Bible,  and 
no  power  could  daunt  them;  for  they  had  ever  before 
them  the  example  of  the  blessed  Saviour,  He  left  the 
shining  Courts  of  Heaven  and  came  down  to  earth,  suf- 
fered poverty  and  an  ignominious  death,  that  sinners 
might  live ; so  were  they  ready  to  suffer  and  die,  if  need 
be,  in  His  service ; ready  to  “ go”  at  His  command  to 
earth’s  remotest  bounds — to  bear  persecutions  or  even 
death  for  His  sake. 

As  Wallace  and  Bruce  fought:;  as  Walter  Scott  and 
Burns  wrote;  as  Stephenson  and  Watt  invented,  so 
preached  the  heralds  of  the  Cross.  No  king,  potentate  or 
earthly  power  could  restrain,  other  than  by  death  or  a 
dungeon,  such  ministers  as  McArthur,  White  or  Knox. 
They  would  preach  if  their  tongues  would  utter  speech. 

With  the  Scotchman,  there  is  a distinct  Right  and 
Wrong — the  one,  he  would  die  to  maintain;  the  other,  he 
would  die  rather  than  endure ; the  one  looms  up,  like  his 
native  Ben  Nevis,  into  heaven,  as  a beacon  to  guide  and 
to  reach ; the  other  sinks  down  into  the  uttermost  cav- 
erns of  the  deep,  as  a horror  to  shun  and  to  obliterate.  In 
peace,  the  Scotch  are  as  placid  and  smooth  as  the  bosom 
of  their  own  Loch  Lomond ; but  in  war  they  are  rugged 
and  fierce  as  their  own  storm-beaten  shores,  cliffs  and  na- 
tive fastnesses;  terrible  as  an  “army  with  banners,”  w'hff 
the  plain  imprint  of  “ victory  or  death”  on  every  feature. 

Such  is  Scotch  character..  And  thus  they  have  stood 
through  all  time,  “ wrapped  in  the  solitude  of  their  own 
originality.”  Like  Scotland,  in  its  isolated  grapffeur  and 
sublime  outline  of  native  scenery,  so  has  its  people  ever 
stood,  a wonder  untq  many  ! 


10 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

His  Boyhood. 

Elder  Daniel  White  was  born  in  Cowell,  a small 
place  on  an  arm  of  the  sea,  in  Scotland.  His  parents  were 
poor,  but  very  respectable,  and  followed,  from  the  best  in- 
formation we  can  get,  the  business  of  shepherds,  or  herd- 
ing. His  father  by  this  business  supported  his  family, 
and  gave  them  a start  in  education.  He  had  four  chil- 
dren— two  sons,  of  whom  Daniel  was  the  youngest,  and 
two  daughters.  The  oldest  son  was  put  to  the  trade  of 
shoemaker,  which  he  had  just  completed  when  the  father 
died.  Daniel  was  quite  young  when  this  event  occurred, 
and  his  subsequent  education,  as  well  as  that  of  his  sisters, 
devolved  upon  his  mother  and  elder  brother.  The  shep- 
herd business  was  discontinued,  and  his  mother  and 
brother  procured  a seine  and  small  boat,  that  Daniel,  who 
was  expert,  active  and  very  bright  and  intelligent,  might 
help  his  brother,  as  opportunity  offered,  to  manage  the 
seine — set  it  at  night  and,  with  the  aid  of  the  boat,  bring 
in  the  fish  in  the  morning.  This  business  proved  to  be 
very  remunerative.  Fish  in  abundance  were  taken  ; and 
as  there  was  a constant  stream  of  travel  by  this  point  be- 
tween the  Highlands  and  Lowlands  of  Scotland,  the  fish, 
such  as  they  did  not  need,  were  readily  sold.  So  his  elder 
brother,  with  his  trade  and  this  added  branch  of  industry, 
found  it  easy  to  support  the  family  in  comfort  and  give 
a fair  education  to  his  brother  and  sisters. 


1TIS  BOYHOOD. 


11 


It  was  not  all  smooth  sailing  with  the  brothers  in  their 
fishery.  It  was  their  lot  sometimes  to  meet  startling 

ADVENTURE 

on  the  sea.  To  illustrate,  we  here  give  an  instance : 

One  morning  the  brothers  repaired  to  their  net,  or 
seine,  and  every  appearance  indicated  a good  haul.  Right 
merrily  the  boys  unloosed  their  boat  from  its  moorings, 
and  with  little  observation  of  the  surroundings,  shot  out 
to  the  extreme  end  of  the  seine,  at  some  distance  in  the 
deep  arm  of  the  sea.  With  light  hearts  they  attached 
the  ends  securely  to  their  boat.  At  this  juncture  they 
heard  a sudden  heavy  “ splash”  in  the  water,  and,  looking 
back,  saw,  to  their  horror,  between  them  and  the  shore,  a 
whale  just  reaching,  and  probably  offended  at  the  im- 
pediment offered  by  their  seine,  made  a fierce  dart  for- 
ward, sending  the  affrighted  boys  for  several  moments  at 
a fearful  speed  over  the  waters.  Gilpin’s  utmost  endeavor 
upon  land,  in  comparison,  would  have  appeared  as  the 
pace  of  a tortoise.  The  whale  at  last  turned  about  into 
the  open  sea,  and  the  brothers  escaped  with  joy. 

THE  TRAVEL 

between  the  Highlands  and  Lowlands  of  Scotland  by 
their  aboard  was  a means  of  greatly  benefiting  young 
White  in  his  after  missionary  duties.  Here  he  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  many  families  from  both  sections, 
who  afterwards  emigrated  to  America  and  were  his  warm 


12 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


and  true  friends  during  Ids  life.  He  was  blessed  with  a 
peculiarly  attractive  disposition  ; any  one  once  becoming 
intimately  acquainted  with  him,  were  likely  ever  after- 
wards  to  be  his  true  friend.  His  nature,  person  and  ad- 
dress were  all  frank  and  pleasing. 

The  preaching  of  McArthur,  too,  had  much  to  do  in 
breaking  down  the  ancient  barriers  between  clans  and 
demarkations  of  rank.  Before  he  came,  clans  mingled 
but  little,  rarely  intermarried,  and  different  degrees  of 
wealth  or  blood  drew  rigid  lines  of  grade  or  status  in  so- 
ciety, over  which  very  few,  no  matter  how  meritorious  or 
worthy,  could  pass.  His  ministry  drew  all  ranks  and 
conditions  together,  giving  people  a clearer  view  of  each 
other,  and  convincing  them  that  all  the  good  in  the  world 
was  not  confined  to  the  “ pent  up  Utica”  of  their  own 
particular  clan  or  grade  of  wealth.  He  drew  immense 
audiences  everywhere  he  went,  and  young  Daniel  White, 
becoming  early  converted  under  his  preaching,  became 
himself  an  earnest  minister  and  faithful  co-worker  with 
him.  So  conspicuous  were  his  virtures,  piety  and  talents, 
that  he  won  upon  the  affections  and  confidence  of  all, 
broke  over  all  the  ancient  barriers  of  the  aristocracy, 
gained  the  love  of,  and  married  Miss  Catherine  Campbell, 
whose  parents  were  land-owners — a matter  of  importance 
in  Scotland — and  of  the  blood  of  the  renowned  Clan 
Campbell. 

Who  has  not  heard  the  Scotch  rallying  song : 

“ The  Campbells  are  cornin’,  O ho  ! O ho  ! 

The  Campbells  are  cornin’,  O ho  ! O ho  ! 

The  Campbells  are  cornin’  from  bonny  Loch  Lomond  ! 

Tlte  Campbells  are  cornin’,  O ho  ! O ho  ! 


HIS  BOYHOOD. 


13 


The  great  Argyle,  he  goes  before, 

He  makes  the  guns  and  cannon  roar  ; 

With  sound  of  trumpet,  fife  and  drum, 

And  banners  waving  in  the  sun, 

The  Campbells  are  cornin’,  O ho  ! O ho  !” 

The  mingling  of  the  clans  and  people,  thus  brought 
together  by  the  power  of  a pure  Gospel,  earnestly  deliv- 
ered, was  in  the  highest  degree  salutary  to  the  Scotch 
there  as  here.  Elder  White  found  in  these  “ opened 
avenues”  to  the  hearts  of  all  classes  of  the  people  a greater 
facility  of  pointing  many  to  the  “ Lamb  of  God,”  than  he 
might  otherwise  have  possessed.  They  were  made  to  feel 
that  “ Christ  was  all  and  in  all,”  and  that 

“ In  Him,  -they  all  possessed.” 

Thus,  by  the  great  revival  in  Scotland  (in  attendance  on 
which  most  of  the  Clans  mingled  freely  together,  and  for- 
got their  old  feuds),  many  were  brought  to  feel  as  well  as 
sing : 

“ Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds 

Our  hearts  in  Christian  love; 

The  fellowship  of  kindred  minds 
Is  like  to  that  above.” 

On  coming  to  America,  therefore,  Elder  White  found 
members  of  these  Clans,  thus  happily  joined  in  heart,  scat- 
tered here  and  there  throughout  the  broad  belt  in  which 
he  preached. 


J.4 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DA XI EL  WHITE. 


CHAPTER  III. 

“ The  Despised  Sect.” 

One  of  the  great  evils  suffered  by  the  people  of  Eng- 
land and  Scotland,  in  the  times  of  which  we  write,  was 
of  compelling  the  people  and  laymen  of  the  realm  to  sup- 
port a ministry  imposed  upon  them  by  the  State.  These 
Ro}ral  favorites — often  without  a semblance  of  piety,  of 
depraved  morals,  gamblers,  drunkards  and  libertines — 
were  appointed  to  “ livings”  in  the  kirks  throughout  the 
land,  and  the  people  were  compelled  to  pay  tribute  for 
their  sustenance.  These  “ reverends”  rarely  filled  their 
pulpits ; and  in  the  cases  of  many  of  them,  it  would  have 
been  better  if  they  did  not  at  all ; for  they  were  far  more 
at  home  when  attending  a horse-race,  a dance,  a fair,  or 
a game  of  chance.  These  “ whited  sepulchers,”  though 
heartily  despised  by  the  people,  and  a grievous  burden 
upon  them,  nevertheless  lorded  it  over  them  with  a high 
hand ; and  besides  living  sumptuously  upon  the  scanty 
and  grudgingly  given  earnings  of  the  oppressed  people, 
yet  exercised  a censorship  over  their  spiritual  affairs, 
amounting  almost,  in  the  subtlety  of  barbaric  cruelty,  to 
the  Spanish  Inquisition.  Woe  to  the  layman  or  citizen 
who  failed,  from  any  cause,  to  contribute  his  exact  and 
full  quota  to  the  support  of  the  High  Church  dignitaries! 
They  were  reported,  and  the  strong  arm  of  the  law  and 
merciless  vengeance  visited  upon  them  ! 

Did  they  dare  to  exhibit  any  want  of  reverence  or  man- 


15 


" THE  DRPISKD  SECT.” 

ifest  any  spirit  of  insubordination  to  them,  then  the  re- 
finements of  cruelty  were  visited  upon  them  in  every 
way.  Such  a clergy,  elevated,  as  they  had  mostly  been, 
by  the  police,  and  over  the  heads  of  an  unwilling  and 
even  resisting  people,  assembled  to  prevent  their  installa- 
tion (for  their  “ living”  was  secured  when  “ installed,” 
however  fraudulently  that  Was  done;,  could  not  have  a 
fraternal  feeling  for  their  flock,  or  be  much  concerned  for 
their  spiritual  or  temporal  good.  If  a true  and  humble 
follower  and  servant  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  in  his 
eagerness  to  preach  the  pure  Gospel  to  the  almost  starv- 
ing flock,  in  some  sequestered  mountain  gorge,  lonely 
cave  or  rocky  glen,  these  “ clergy”  were  first  to  ferret  them 
out  and  hound  them  on  to  banishment.  Relentlessly, 
too,  they  persecuted  those  who  attended  the  ministrations 
of  these  “ true  lights”  in  secret.  In  vain  did  the  gentle 
Christian  maiden  attempt  to  steal  away,  and  in  solitude 
commune  alone  in  earnest  prayer  with  her  God  ; to  seek 
spiritual  strength  and  guidance,  “ and  by  faith,  take  a 
view  of  brighter  scenes  in  heaven,  while  here  by  fierce 
tempests  driven  ;”  for  the  prowling  feet  and  prying  eyes 
of  the  “ clergy,”  or  their  satellites,  were  sure  to  find  them 
out. 

As  zealously  as  Daniel  was  watched,  lest  he  should 
pray  to  any  save  King  Darius,  were  these  humble  Scotch 
Christians  subjected  to  the  closest  scrutiny,  lest  they 
should  seek  spiritual  consolation  from  any  other  source 
than  the  self-imposed  high  dignitaries  of  pampered  power 
over  them. 

Such  is  a faint  view  of  the  High  Church  troubles  in 


u 


LIFE  <)F  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


Scotland  in  the  boyliood  days  of  Daniel  White;  nor  are  ■ 
they  over-drawn.  The- writer  well  remembers  hearing 
Mrs.  While,  an  eye-witness  of  these  scenes,  tell  of  the 
wickedness  of  the  “established  ministers”  of  that  time, 
and  how  she  saw  them  placed  over  an  unwilling  and  re- 
sisting Hock  by  the  police. 

In  further  verification,  the  writer  may  instance  the1 
well-authenticated  account  of  the  faithful  band  of  Chris-1 
tians,  who,  harrassed  by  persecution,  sought  out  a place, 
surrounded  on  all  sides  by  high  mountains,  where  they 
hoped  to  be  able  to  serve  God  according  to  the  dictates  of! 
their  own  consciences.  In  this  deep  wooded  basin,  through 
which  ran  a little  rivulet  which  had  its  source  high  up 
in  the  surrounding  mountains,  and  barely  found  Vent 
through  the  close  fishures  of  the  rock  from  the  deep 
gorge.  Sometimes,  in  the  spring  and  early  summer,  ava- 
lanches of  snow  and  loosened  earth  dammed  the  rivulet, 
above  for  weeks,  and  when  it  broke  through  its  escaping 
waters  shook  the  solid  earth,  descending  like  a wild  cat- 
aract, with  a sound  as  of  the 

“Tramp  of  thousands  upon  the  hollow  wind;”  I 

and  on  reaching  the  basin,  filled  it  high  up  in  but  a few 
moments  of  time,  as  the  vent  from  it  was  not  sufficient  to 
let  off  the  waters  but  by  slow  degrees.  To  prevent  a sur- 
prise by  the  waters,  and  to  escape  their  relentless  enemies, 
if  they  should  find  their  hiding  place,  the  worshipers  cut 
out  a secluded  -winding  path  to  a rocky  cave,  high  up 
among  the  rocks,  having  but  a small  opening,  and  this 
overhung  with  vines  and  lichens.  One  Sabbath  in  early 


17 


“ TIIE  DESPISED  SECT.” 

summer,  this  little  band  of  devout  believers  were  con- 
ducting service  in  this  still  and  deep  asylum.  The  shep- 
! herds  and  shepherdesses,  the  miners  and  the  tillers  of  the 
soil  were  there,  from  far  and  near  around,  attired  in  their 
•best  and  with  reverential  mien.  The  aged  minister,  of 
their  own  choosing,  had  just  risen  from  prayer  and  opened 
5 the  Bible  on  the  rock  pulpit  before  him,  -when  their  soli- 

• tary  guard,  left  on  the  heights  above  to  watch  for  the  ap- 
proaches of  an  enemy,  suddenly  appeared  almost  out  of 
'breath  before  them,  and  reported  that  he  was  surprised, 
l and  that  the  armed  troops  were  even  then  descending  the 

! only  approach  to  them.  A bonnet  and  the  Bible  were 
left  in  their  hurried  rush  to  their  hiding  place,  high  up 
in  the  mountain’s  side,  which  they  had  barely  reached 
i when  they  heard  the  blasphemy  and  horrid  threats  against 
them  from  the  troops  wdio  had  just  arrived.  They  threat- 
ened death  by  the  torture;  they  swore  and  used  ribald 
1 jests  at  the  bonnet,  and  cursed  the  “ heretic  Bible  and  its 

• God.”  Just  then,  a mighty  thunder,  as  of  falling  moun- 
tains, was  heard  ; the  solid  earth  shook ; a sound  as  of 
many  waters  was  abroad.  The  knees  of  the  affrighted 
troopers  smote  together,  and,  looking  up,  they  saw  the 
white  head  of  the  aged  minister,  in  his  high  cave,  as  he 
exclaimed  : “ The  Lord  omnipotent  reigneth.”  In  another 
moment  the  fierce  foaming  waters  rolled  in,  and  the 
troopers  were  all  drowned  ! 

Such  is  a brief  narration  of  an  actual  occurrence  in  the 
stormy  past  of  Scotland.  Such  were  the  difficulties  in 
the  way  of  true  piety  there.  To  be  a conscientious  Bible 
Christian,  was  to  be  one  of  a persecuted  and  “ despised 


18 


LIFE  OF  1;I0V.  DANIEL  WiUTE. 


sect.”  To  be  called  of  God  to  the  great  work  of  the  min-  1 
isfry  entailed  with  it  an  utter  renunciation  of  the  world, 
its  vanities,  and  all  hope  of  preferment  among  men.  They 
were  henceforth  to  give  themselves  to  the  service  of  their 
Great  King,  hide  themselves  in  Him,  and  seek,  by  faith- 
ful service  in  fear  and  love  to  Him,  the  true  “riches, 
honor  and  life”  promised  to  those  who,  in  humility,  fear 
and  love,  fought  the  good  fight  of  faith.  For  their  earthly 
king  and  all  the  heraldry  of  power  were  against  them,  as 
were  also  the  fawning  sycophants  of  pomp  and  show.! 
Henceforth  they  were  to  consecrate  themselves  and  all 
they  held  dear  to  Him  ; bearing  reproach,  stripes,  banish- : 
ment — or  even  the  stake  and  flame,  if  need  be — they  were ; 
to  fight  on,  and  leave  results  to  God.  They  were  to  live 
by  faith;  and  in  the  army  of  the  Captain  of  their  salva- 
tion, the}r  would  enter  upon  the  mighty  struggle  against 
the  “ powers  of  darkness,”  and  perish  in  the  encounter,  or  j 
over  all  prevail.  What  wonder,  then,  that  the  true  her- 
alds of  the  Cross  should  be  “ mighty  in  the  Scriptures,”  as 
well  as  of  self-sacrificing  devotion  ! No  wonder  that  sin- 
ners were  alarmed  under  their  preaching  and  saints  made 
to  rejoice!  There  was  not  greater  “ striving”  among  the 
Greeks  and  Romans,  in  their  Olympic  games,  than  among 
the  devout  in  these  stormy  times  in  their  efforts  to  “ win” 
in  the  great  battle  of  light  against  darkness,  truth  against 
error,  life  against  death.  The  power  of  the  government — 
all  the  powers  of  the  earth — could  not  swerve  them  from 
their  purpose,  by  God’s  help,  of  turning  many  to  righteous- 
ness. They  had  tasted  of  the  joys  of  sins  forgiven  and  the 
sweets  of  a Saviour’s  love.  Little  cared  they,  therefore,  for 


19 


“ THE  DEPISEB  SECT.” 

the  puny  power  that  could  but  kill  the  body,  but  bad  no 
power  over  the  soul.  Their  kinsmen,  according  to  the 
flesh,  their  countrymen  abroad,  and  the  heathen  nations 
were  perishing  for  the  lack  of  knowledge.  God’s  com- 
mand was,  “ Go  !” — teach  all  nations;  desciplethem  ; feed 
my  sheep.  Could  they,  therefore,  be  idle?  Ah,  no! 
The}'  would  buckle  on  the  “ whole  armor,”  and  put  forth 
every  power  of  mind  and  body  to  call  sinners  to  repent- 
ance and  to  faith  in  God,  Such  were  the  purposes  actuat- 
ing the  veteran  Baptists  of  Scotland.  Of  such  mould  and 
frame  of  mind  were  the  true,  fearless,  humble,  devoted 
and  mighty  men  of  God — McArthur,  White,  and  many 
Others — who  forsook  all  for  Christ  in  this  trying  epoch. 


20 


LIFE  OF  BEY.  DANIEL  WHITE, 


CHAPTER  IV. 

His  Conversion  and  Baptism. 

Scotland  is  a name  very  dear  to  many  hearts.  It  if 
associated  in  the  mind  with  daring  deeds  and  deathless 
heroism.  Song,  history,  romance  and  tradition,  cluster 
about  its  rivers,  lochs,  mountains  and  braes.  Its  cities; 
and  towns  are  emblazoned  with  inspiring  memories.  It 
is  not  only  the  “ land  o’  cakes,”  but  also  of  heroes, 
poets  and  divines  unsurpassed  in  the  world’s  history. 

Here  were  ■■  Great  Hearts,”  in  the  truest  sense  of  tin! 
term,  who,  under  the  relentless  hand  of  persecution,  jour 
neyed  with  their  faithful  bands  of  pilgrims  and  “ fougbi 
their  good  fights.”  In  the  midst  of  troublous  times: 
Rev.  Daniel  White  was  born  in  Cowell,  Scotland,  about 
the  year  1784.  Under  the  ministration  of  the  Rev.  D 
McArthur,  an  able  and  zealous  man  of  God,  he  was 
brought  to  a saving  knowledge  of  the  truth-  This  was 
about  the  year  1800.  There  was  about  this  time  a great  re 
vival  in  Scotland.  But  after  all,  the  young  converts  found 
aformidable  difficulty  in  obeying  their  Lord  and  Master  in 
baptism.  The  lion  in  the  way  was  the  oppressive  laws  os 
Great  Britain,  which  placed  a ban  upon  all  forms  of 
faith,  belief,  or  practice  not  in  conformity  with  the 
“Church”  of  England.  The  young  converts  chose  tc 
obey  the  great  King,  in  preference  to  king  George  the 
III.,  in  matters  of  conscientious  belief  and  baptism.  The 


HIS  CONVERSION  AND  BAPTISM. 


21 


lev.  Daniel  McArthur  had  to  go  to  a remote  part  of  Eng- 
and  to  be  baptized  in  the  true  mode,  and  on  his  return 
:hose  a beautiful  Lake  (or  Loch  as  termed  in  Scotland), 
lurrounded  by  butting  cliffs  and  mountains,  to  perforin 
he  then  hazardous  duty  of  baptism  to  the  humble  fol- 
owers  of  Christ.  Despite  secrecy,  the  news  got  out,  and 
Sn  the  appointed  da}7,  the  rocky  amphitheatre  surround- 
hug  the  little  Loch,  was  covered  with  people,  rising  from 
The  waters  edge,  tier  above  tier,  to  a great  height  on  the 
'surrounding  cliffs,  eagerly  watching  the  impressive  and 
solemn  ordinance.  The  day  was  propitious.  The  birds 
'sang  sweetly,  nature  was  in  her  fairest  robes,  and  the 
bright  sun  glanced  his  cheering  beams  from  the  rippling 
6 waters  to  the  faces  of  the  happy  converts,  where  might 
'so  plainly  be  seen  “holiness  to  the  Lord,”  as  they  went 
Iowa  into  the  water  and  came  up  out  of  it, 

Following  their  Lord  and  Master 

In  righteousness  below.” 

At  this  baptismal  scene,  which  occurred  about  the  year 
1800,  from  the  best  data  we  can  find,  Daniel  White,  Alex, 
McNeill,  J.  McKellar,  Duncan  Campbell  and  Catharine 
Campbell,  besides  a great  many  others,  were  baptized. 
The  names  given  will  sufficiently  illustrate  the  genuine- 
ness and  power  of  the  good  work  of  grace  then  expe'- 
xienced  in  Scotland.  The  three  first  named  above  soon 
after  became  zealous  and  devoted  ministers  of  the  gospel, 
the  two  latter  were  brother  and  sister — the  sister  was 
afterwards  the  wife  of  Rev,  Daniel  White — and  thousands 


22 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


in  North  and  South  Carolina  can  testify  to  her  faithful 
ness  and  zeal  in  the  cause  of  her  Redeemer,  while  Dur 
can  Campbell  “ fought  a good  fight”  for  the  Master  i 
Scotland.  Rev.  John  Monroe  says  of  this  refreshin  | 
season:  “Numbers  who  were  converted  in  that  revivs 

emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  to  Canada.  The  write1" 
was  personally  acquainted  with  many  of  them,  and  ca  Kl 
testify  that  they  were  men  and  women  of  great  mors 
worth  and  devoted  piety.”  After  this  great  awakening  w 
the  Baptists,  then  a persecuted  and  despised  sect,  tool1  ■' 
courage  and  preached  and  exhorted  openly,  “ and  they  con 
tinued  steadfastly  in  the  apostles’  doctrine  and  fellowship 
and  in  breaking  of  bread  and  in  prayer.”  The  enemiel’1 
of  the  Baptists,  however,  speedily  conveyed  information  11 
of  all  this  to  the  Government,  and  a body  of  troops  wen  1 
dispatched  to  take  the  minister,  Rev.  D.  McArthur,  anc  ' 
have  him  before  a magistrate  where,  if  found  guilty  ol 1 
preaching  the  “despised  doctrine”  against  the  “Laws 
made  and  provided,”  to  banish  him  at  once  to  Botany 
Bay,  the  then  abode  for  banned  preachers.  The  soldiers1 
timed  their  arrival  on  the  scene  to  a Sabbath,  sons  to  take! 
the  preacher  in  the  unlawful  act,  and  were  followed  by  a 
large  concourse  cf  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  high  degree 
as  well  as  of  the  higher  “church.”  Secure  of  fun  as  of  the 
States’  protecting  arm,  they  sported  their  grandest  robes, 
with  noble  hats  and  bonnets  flaunting  with  ribbons  and 
plumes.  They  asked  the  soldiers  to  defer  the  arrest  until 
they  had  heard  some  of  the  discourse.  They  came  upon 
the  scene;  they  saw  an  earnest  minister  proclaiming 
from  a table  in  the  open  air  the  burning  “ words  of  truth 


HIS  CONVERSION  AND  BAPTISM. 


23 


md  soberness,”  to  a grave  and  devout  assembly ; they 
ivere  conquered,  for  said  an  eye  witness,  before  the  sermon 
was  ended  the  soldiers  trembled  and  cried  for  mercy,  the 
noble  ladies  were  upon  their  knees  and  their  plumed 
oonnets  and  gay  robes  in  the  very  dust,  while  their  gal- 
ant  escorts  cried,  “ what  shall  wre  do  to  be  saved  ? ” They 
returned  without  making  the  arrest. 

A few  Sabbaths  afterward  another  body  of  troops 
ivere  sent  to  make  the  arrest.  They  came  just  as  the 
hymn  was  being  given  out;  they  commanded  the  Rev. 
).  McArthur  to  come  down  as  their  prisoner.  He  held 
the  book  above  their  guns,  calling  upon  some  one  to  con- 
dnue  the  hymn.  An  officer  frying  to  snatch  the  book, 
his  arm  fell,  as  if  palsied,  to  his  side.  Duncan  Campbell 
md  Rev.  Daniel  White  came  forward  and  continued 
singing,  praying,  and  exhorting  while  the  noble  man  of 
3rod  was  carried  away.  No  sooner  was  the  brief  service 
concluded  than  the  devout  band  set  about  getting  up  the 
strongest  petition  they  could  to  the  King,  asking  his 
clemency  to  their  beloved  McArthur.  This  Mr.  Duncan 
Campbell  took  with  all  haste  to  London.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  Rev.  McArthur  was  hastily  tried  and  condemned, 
md  put  on  board  a vessel  to  be  conveyed  to  Botany  Bay. 
Mr.  D.  Campbell,  who  doubtless  went  unto  the  King  with 
feelings  akin  to  those  of  Queen  Esther  when  she  ex- 
claimed, “if  I perish  I perish,”  met  with  favor,  and  the 
petition  of  the  devoted  Christians  for  the  release  of  Mc- 
Arthur was  granted,  together  with  the  privilege  of  inter- 
cepting the  vessel  which  was  bearing  him  away,  and 
taking  him  back  to  Scotland.  This  the  dauntless  Camp- 


24 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


bell  proceeded  to  do,  but  found,  to  bis  surprise,  that  the 
vessel  with  McArthur  on  board  was  in  the  harbor  or  dock 
of  London.  It  had  met  with  a storm  and  was  driven  and 
tossed  until  compelled  to  go  up  the  Thames  to  London. 
Here  Campbell  found  and  released  his  friend,  and  with 
him  journeyed  back  to  Scotland.  Whether  the  success  oi 
the  intrepid  Campbell  was  owing  to  the  importance  of 
the  family,  (they  being  land  owners  in  Scotland)  or  to 
the  waning  spirit  of  religious  persecution  then  ob- 
servable in  England,  or  to  the  great  trouble  and  anx- 
iety of  the  King  himself  about  his  soul,  which  we  are 
informed  from  history  was  the  case  about  that  time,  can- 
not now  be  known ; but  certain  it  is  that  man’s  vile  pro- 
posals were  met  by  a merciful  disposal  of  the  Supreme 
Ruler. 

About  this  time  the  Rev.  Daniel  White,  and  also  Mc- 
Neill and  McKellar,  were  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the 
ministry,  and  all  felt  a strong  desire  to  go  and  preach  the 
gospel  to  their  countrymen  in  America,  In  this  Mrs. 
White  strongly  opposed  the  will  of  her  husband.  To 
gratify  her,  though  not  satisfied  in  his  own  mind,  he  ac- 
cepted calls  and  preached  earnestly  to  surrounding 
churches.  Mrs.  White  often  spoke  of  a sheet  of  water 
with  its  transcendent  beauty  of  surrounding  scenery,  over 
which  they  often  passed  and  re-passed  to  one  of  his 
churches.  But  we  all  know  how  grand  the  Scottish  land-' 
scapes,  lochs,  mountains  and  rivers  are — history  and  song 
making  them  household  words  in  every  home.  Even  these 
scenes  of  his  fair  native  land,  and  the  need  of  the  gospel 
among  its  people,  could  not,  she  said,  draw  his  mind  off 


HIS  ORDINATION. 


25 


from  going  to  preach  to  his  people  in  America.  One 
night  she  was  awakened  by  his  preaching  and  praying 
earnestly  in  his  sleep.  She  saw  from  his  language  it  was 
to  an  American  audience.  She  tried  to  awaken  him  but 
failed.  The  terrible  fear  came  over  her  that  her  opposi- 
tion to  his  inclination  and  God’s  will  had  demented  him. 
In  an  agony  of  fear  she  bowed  in  prayer  and  besought 
God  to  forgive  her  sin  and  restore  her  husband  to  his 
right  mind,  and  she  would  never  more  oppose  his  desire 
to  cross. the  ocean  to  preach  the  gospel.  When  she  arose 
she  saw  her  husband,  as  if  greatly  distressed,  looking  upon 
her.  “ Oh,”  said  he,  “ I thought  I was  in  America  and 
doing  God’s  will  in  preaching  to  my  people  there.”  And 
then  he  went  on  to  describe  the  church  and  the  people  to 
whom  he  preached,  and  we  may  be  permitted  here  to  say 
(though  by  so  doing  we  anticipate  the  regular  order  of 
events  a little,)  that  some  time  afterwards  they  saw  the 
very  people  and  church  he  then  so  vividly  described  in 
his  dream  a reality,  and  just  as  he  had  seen  it,  in  Amer- 
ica. How  truly, 

“ God  moves  in  a mysterious  way 

His  wonders  to  perform.” 

From  this  time  Elder  White  found  his  wife  ready  and 
willing  to  accompany  him.  Arrangements  were  there- 
fore made  for  quitting  their  native  land,  which,  in  com- 
pany with  Revs.  Alex.  McNeill  and  J.  McKellar,  they  left 
on  the  28th  of  August,  1807.  In  our  next  chapter  wre 
will  tell  of -Rev.  Daniel  White  in  America,  where  he  left 
such  indellible  “ footprints  on  the  sands  of  time,”  and 
2 


26 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


from  whence  he  carried  his  golden  sheaves  of  good  works 
into  eternity.  That  “ Great  Heart  ” and  valiant  servant 
of  God,  Rev.  D.  McArthur,  with  many  faithful  co-workers, 
remained  to  till  their  Master’s  fields  and  gather  the  har- 
vests in  Scotland. 

It  cannot  be  a matter  of  surprise,  therefore,  that  there 
are  “Scotch  Baptists,”  but  rather  that  there  are  not  more 
of  them. 


HIS  VOYAGE  TO  AMERICA. 


27 


CHAPTER  V. 

His  Voyage  to  America. 

In  the  times  of  which  we  write,  and  before,  there  were 
grave  difficulties  in  confessing  Christ  before  men,  or  in 
taking  the  cross  and  following  Him.  We,  in  these  “pip- 
ing times  of  peace,”  can  scarcely  comprehend  the  real 
hardships  by  which  they  were  environed.  When  the 
true  Christian  took  the  word  of  God  as  the  man  of  his 
counsel,  he  found  Roman  Catholicism,  with  a power 
almost  equal  to  any  of  the  thrones  in  Europe,  confront- 
ing him  on  the  one  hand  with  its  enginery  of  opposition, 
while  on  the  other  hand  the  favorite  “ Church  ” of  the 
King  and  nation,  often  little  more  than  a political  ma- 
chine, scarcely  recognizing  the  Bible  in  its  code,  was 
ready  to  crush  all  who  were  not  within  its  pale,  or  dared 
to  go  counter  to  its  teaching.  Thus  the  true  believer 
found  himself  hemmed  in  on  every  side.  If  he  followed 
Christ,  Catholicism  hurled  its  anathemas  and  direst  ven- 
geance upon  him,  and  the  “ Church  of  State  ” stood  ready, 
backed  by  all  the  power  of  the  King,  Parliament,  the 
army  and  navy,  to  persecute,  banish,  beat  with  stripes,  or 
even,  as  in  many  cases,  burn  at  the  stake.  He  who  was 
called  to  the  ministry,  and  felt  “ Woe  is  me  if  I preach 
not  the  gospel,”  was  confronted  by  appalling  obstacles. 
The  State  and  the  Pope  piled  Ossa  upon  Pelion  of  hin- 
drances in  his  way  on  land,  while  upon  sea  they  wrere  as 
Charybdis  on  one  hand  and  Scylla  on  the  other,  ready  to 
engulph  any  herald  of  the  cross  who  dared  to  steer  be- 


28 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


tween  them.  But  they  did  preach.  They  heard  and 
obeyed  the  voice  of  God,  above  the  rage  and  clamor  of 
kings,  popes  and  potentates — and  preached,  despite  all, 
to  their  people,  and  carried  the  gospel  abroad.  What  a 
sublimity  of  heroism ! What  a sweet  savor  to  the  nations 
when  “thrones  and  crowns  shall  blend  in  common  dust!” 
Though  man’s  puny  power  did  arrest  and  banish  McAr- 
thur, yet  the  faith  of  the  beholders  was  increased,  and 
willing  heralds  ministered  in  his  stead.  Though  Bunyan 
was  thrown  into  prison,  yet  his  bright  light  from  the 
damp  dungeon  still  illumines  the  pathway  to  heaven! 
Though  Paul  was  persecuted,  cast  into  prison  and  beaten 
with  stripes,  still  he  “fought  the  good  fight.”  Though 
Stephen  was  stoned  to  death,  yet  his  death  still  preaches! 

May  not  the  Christian  of  the  present  day,  in  contemn 
plation  of  such  heroism  for  Christ,  ask — 

“ Must  I be  carried  to  the  skies, 

On  flowery  beds  of  ease, 

While  others  fought  to  win  the  prize, 

And  sailed  through  bloody  seas?” 

The  Rev.  Daniel  White,  feeling  it  to  be  his  duty,  under 
the  guidance  of  the  unerring  Spirit,  to  preach  the  gospel 
in  America,  left  his  dear  native  land,  and  “all  the  scenes 
he  loved  so  well,”  for  this  country.  As  was  shown  in  a 
previous  chapter,  he  embarked  on  the  28th  of  August, 
1807.  Besides  his  wife,  two  young  ministers,  Alex.  Mc- 
Neill and  J.  Mc-Kellar,  took  passage  with  him.  The  ves- 
sel, which  was  bound  for  Charleston,  S.  C.,  was  but  a few 
days  at  sea,  when  they  were  pursued  by  a man  of  war 
ship,  for  the  purpose,  as  wras  supposed,  of  forcibly  impress - 


HIS  VOYAGE  TO  AMERICA. 


29 


ing  any  young  able-bodied  men  who  might  be  on  board, 
into  the  British  service  as  soldiers  or  marines.  This 
species  of  kidnapping,  so  repugnant  to  every  sense  of 
right  and  justice,  was  then  frequently  practiced.  Their 
vessel,  however,  made  all  headway,  and  by  skillful  sea- 
men and  favoring  gales,  at  length  entirely  distanced  their 
pursuer.  Far  out  in  mid  ocean  they  passed  a large  ship 
wrecked,  and  at  the  mercy  of  the  waves.  There  were  no 
signs  of  life  on  board,  and  the  conclusion  was  that  either 
all  had  perished  or  some  passing  vessel  had  taken  them 
off.  No  other  incidents  worthy  of  noteoccurred  while  at 
sea,  and  they  landed  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  on  October  7th, 
1807.  Here  the  whole  party  were  kindly  received  by  the 
Baptists  of  the  citjq  and  so  favorably  impressed  were  they 
with  the  young  ministers,  Alex.  McNeill  and  J.  McKellar, 
that  they  insisted  on  giving  them  a thorough  course  of 
theological  training.  All  further  intelligence  that  we 
can  gather  of  these  young  men  is,  that  they  completed 
the  course  with  great  credit  and  distinction.  McNeill, 
who  was  said  to  have  been  a young  man  of  exceeding 
promise,  soon  after  died,  and  McKellar  went  to  preach  in 
Georgia  and  Alabama. 

Elder  White  took  sail  from  Charleston  to  Wilmington, 
to  seek  out  and  preach  to  the  Scotch  people  in  North 
Carolina.  Arriving  in  that  city  soon  after,  himself  and 
wife  made  their  way  across  the  country  to  Lumber  bridge, 
Robeson  county,  N.  C.,  where  he  found  himself  in  the 
heart  of  a Scotch  settlement.  Here  he  preached  his  first 
sermon  in  America,  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  November  of 
the  same  year.  Here,  and  then,  began  a great  work,  the 
fruits  of  which  the  passing  years  only  make  more  an<J 


30 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


more  apparent.  Then,  the  Scotch  people  there  were 
sparsely  settled,  ignorant,  rarely  hearing  preaching  of  any 
kind,  and  hardly  ever  a Baptist  preacher.  To  this  people 
Elder  White  preached  in  Gaelic  and  English,  so  that 
young  and  old  (many  of  the  aged  people  could  scarcely 
speak  or  understand  English)  were  fed  upon  the  rich 
nutriment  of  the  Word  of  God.  Now,  this  whole  people 
are  an  intelligent,  church-going,  God-fearing  people. 
Here  his  first  child,  Mary,  was  born. 

From  Lumber  bridge  he  went  to  Richmond  county,  and 
there,  after  a faithful  ministry,  established  the  Spring 
Hill  church.  This,  too,  was  a Scotch  settlement,  with 
characteristics  after  the  similitude  of  their  countrymen  de- 
scribed above.  Here  Elder  White’s  ministry  was  signally 
blessed.  First,  Malcolm  McMillan  and  Archibald  Graham  * 
influential  heads  of  families,  were  converted  and  added 
to  the  church.  They  were  baptized  in  Jordan’s  creek. 

Some  time  afterwards  there  was  a great  revival  in  this 
church.  Many  happy  converts  were  led  down  into  the 
clear  waters,  following  their  blessed  Master  in  baptism* 
doubtless  feeling  in  their  hearts— 

“ Saviour,  thy  law  we  love, 

Thy  pure  example  bless, 

And,  with  a firm,  unwavering  zeal, 

Would  in  thy  footsteps  press. 

Not  to  the  fiery  pains 

By  which  the  martys  hied  ; 

Not  to  the  scourge,  the  thorn,  ihe  cross. 

Our  favored  feet  are  led. 

But,  at  this  peaceful  tide, 

Assembled  in  thy  fear, 

The  homage  of  obedient  hearts 
We  humbly  offer  here,” 


HIS  MISSION  IN  AMERICA. 


31 


Among  the  seals  of  Elder  White’s  ministry  at  this  place 
was  Elder  John  Monroe,  who  was  baptized  by  him  in 
Lumber  river,  at  a beautiful  bluff  called  Fairley’s  Ford — 
a spot  yet  chosen  for  happy  re-union  and  pleasant  con- 
verse in  the  summer  heats. 

Rev.  J.  Monroe  is  so  widely  known  and  revered  through- 
out the  State,  that  we  need  only  say  that  he  has’for  over 
forty  years  stood  as  a faithful  watchman  upon  Zion’s 
walls,  sustaining  ably  and  zealously  the  cause  left  in  his 
hands  by  his  father  in  Christ.  The  rest  of  the  converts 
of  that  great  ingathering  were  baptized  in  the  Shoe  Heel 
creek,  near  the  church. 

In  this  vicinity  the  other  children  of  Elder  White  were 
born  : Anna,  afterwards  married  to  Duncan  McGougan  ; 
Euphemia,  afterwards  the  wife  of  John  Johnson;  Rebecca, 
afterwards  wife  of  Rev.  P.  C.  Conelly;  John,  who  died 
early;  Mary,  his  eldest  daughter,  married  Charles  Living- 
ston. Every  daughter  had  large  and  interesting  families, 
and  themselves,  husbands  and  every  member  of  their 
families  have  followed  Christ  in  baptism. 

Soon  after  Elder  White  settled  in  Spring  Hill  neigh- 
borhood, he  had  a call  to  the  Welch  Neck  church  in  South 
Carolina,  'where,  upon  his  arrival,  himself  and  wife  saw, 
to  their  amazement,  the  very  church  and  congregation  to 
which,  in  his  dream  in  Scotland  he  had  preached,  and 
which  he  so  vividly  described  that  they  knew  them  at 
once.  Verily  God  “ led  them  in  a way  they  knew  not.” 
The  sequel  showed  still  more,  that  it  was  the  direct  handi- 
work of  God.  For  this  church,  where  his  ministry  was 
greatly  blessed,  became  his  sure  stay  and  support — helped 
to  educate  and  supply  his  family  with  all  necessaries,  and 


32 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


thus  enabled  him  to  carry  out,  in  a measure,  what  had 
always  been  his  wish — giving  his  whole  time  to  the 
ministry. 

Thus  he  was  enabled  to  go  out  into  destitute  parts  as 
well  as  to  the  churches  and  congregations  he  had  planted, 
to  proclaim  the  gospel  in  its  purity  to  a perishing  people. 
Out  through  upper  Richmond,  in  the  Dockery  neighbor- 
hood, or  Cartlege’s  creek ; down  by  Fayetteville  On  the 
Cape  Fear,  through  Duplin,  New  Hanover,  and  the  adja- 
cent regions,  he  spread  the  good  seed,  opened  out  high- 
ways, and  built  high  and  strong  the  walls  about  Zion. 
Behold  now  the  fruit  of  the  labors  of  the  then  “wrestling 
Jacob,”  but  the  now  “prevailing  Israel.”'  This  whole  re- 
gion, destitute,  ignorant,  superstitious,  disinclined  to  the 
support  of  the  gospel,  now  feel  the  need  of  and  gladly 
sustain  such  mighty  men  of  God  as  Monroe,  Dargan, 
Thomas,  Beattie,  the  Culpepers,  Lennon,  Cobb,  Alderman 
and  Pittman,  besides  doing  much  for  the  spread  of  the 
gospel  abroad.  See,  too,  the  refinement  and  general  in- 
telligence so  apparent  throughout  all  this  section.  They 
are  pre-eminently  an  educated,  religious  and  reading 
people. 

Passsing  once  through  Wadesboro,  and  a stranger 
there  then,  among  a few  in  conversation,  of  whom  he  was 
one,  the  writer  heard  Judge  Little  remark  of  this  Scotch 
community  r 

“I  have  seen  many  sections  of  our  country,  but  do  not 
know  a region  where  education  and  refinement  are  more 
generally  diffused  than  in  lower  Richmond  and  the  ad- 
jacent parts.” 

Hon.  Thos.  S.  Ashe,  replying,  said : 


WHAT  HE  ACCOMPLISHED, 


33 


That,  too,  has  been  raj7-  observation,  and  I think  it 
leads  the  State  in  these  respects.” 

Such  remarks  from  such  men  plainly  illustrate  what  a 
mighty  work  has  been  wrought  in  less  than  three  quarters 
of  a century ; and  in  this,  sound  Bible  truth,  wielded  by 
such  earnest  and  loving  men  of  God  as  Elder  White,  had 
much  to  do. 

After  making  the  Welch  Neck  church,  S.  C.,  the  center 
of  his  operations  for  several  years,  he  moved  to  Spring 
Hill,  N.  C.,  which  had  rapidly  strengthened,  and  near 
here  located  his  family  permanently.  He  had  serious 
trials  and  hardships  to  encounter  in  the  commencement 
of  his  ministry  in  this  section.  Himself  and  wife  were  both 
earnest,  zealous  workers — she  in  the  missionary  societies, 
Sunday  schools  and  prayer  meeting,  and  he  in  the  pulpit 
and  “every  good  word  and  work” — yet  they  were  but  poorly 
paid,  and  their  accommodations  and  support  were  often 
very  poor.  Once  when  Elder  White  was  on  a preaching 
tour  from  home,  which  was  then  a small  rented  log  house, 
near  Dr.  Shaw’s  present  residence,  about  a mile  from  the 
church,  Mrs.  White,  leaving  their  child  in  the  house,  went 
to  a spring  some  distance  off  for  water.  Here  she  saw  a 
strange,  large  black  animal  which  stood  directly  in  her 
way,  showing  a disposition  to  attack.  Affrighted,  she  ran 
to  the  house,  where  she  met  several  men  with  guns — 
among  them  Arch’d  Monroe,  a brother  of  Elder  Monroe — 
who  told  her  they  were  in  pursuit  of  a bear.  She  told  them 
where  she  saw  it,  and  they  continued  the  chase;  but  the 
thought  of  such  dangerous  attendants  as  bears  upon  her 
isolated  home  made  it  very  uncomfortable. 

When  their  older  children  were  large  enough  to  watch 


34 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


over  the  smaller,  Mrs.  White  often  accompanied  her  hus- 
band to  his  appointments.  Once,  while  they  were  off 
some  distance  from  home,  a mighty  tornado  arose  at  night. 
The  old  people  yet  tell  of  the  awful  horrors  of  that  night. 
Mrs.  White  was  almost  frantic  with  fear  for  her  children, 
and  with  her  husband  hoped  and  prayed  that  they  might 
he  moved  to  go  into  a new  strong  kitchen  they  had  built. 
“But,”  said  the  husband,  “they  are  in  the  hands  of  God. 
He  will  guide  them  for  the  best,”  and  threw  off  all  apparent 
fear  or  concern.  When  they  reached  home  they  found 
the  children  had  barricaded  the  doors  and  remained  un- 
hurt in  the  dwelling,  while  the  strong  new  kitchen,  out- 
houses, large  trees,  and  piazza  of  the  dwelling  were  blown 
down. 

One  of  the  secrets  of  Elder  White’s  great  usefulness 
and  power  was  his  perfect  faith  and  trust  in  God. 


SCOTCH  BAPTISTS. 


35 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Scotch  Baptists. 

Another  incident,  illustrative  of  the  love  of  his  flock 
for  him,  may  here  be  given.  A Mr.  Sanders,  living  near 
Society  Hill,  S.  C.,  and  who  had  enjoyed  his  ministry 
prior  to  his  removal  to  Spring  Hill,  N.  C.,  never  failed, 
during  the  life  time  of  Elder  White,  to  come  yearly  to  see 
him,  though  the  distance  was  about  fifty  miles,  bringing 
with  him  a barrel  of  flour  and  valuable  cooper-ware  each 
time,  as  presents  to  his  father  in  Christ. 

Spring  Hill  was  not  chosen  by  him  as  the  place  of  his 
permanent  residence  on  account  of  its  superior  congeni- 
ality to  himself  or  family,  but  as  a point  where  he  be- 
lieved he  could  accomplish  the  most  good.  Here  he  met 
wfith  opposition  on  baptism  under  the  water  as  the  true 
mode ; here  he  was  poorly  paid  for  his  services,  and  here 
surrounded  by  a people  wandering  in  the  mazes  of  super- 
stition— believing  in  witchcraft  and  ghosts — 

“ Far  out  on  the  mountains  wild  and  bare, 

Far  away  from  the  tender  Shepherd’s  care.” 

But  they  were  the  people  of  his  native  land — his  loved 
Scotland — thus  going  astray  from  the  true  fold,  and  this 
decided  him. 

Here,  soon  after  his  settlement,  he  one  night  preached 
a very  able  sermon  against  the  superstitious  beliefs  of  the 
people  (a  sermon  said  by  the  old  people  to  be  the  most 
powerful  they  ever  heard,  and  which  uprooted  their 


3G 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


ancient  superstitions),  and  on  returning  to  his  home,  with 
head  bowed  in  deep  meditation,  he  suddenly  lifted  his 
eyes  and  saw  before  him,  in  the  pale  moonlight,  what  ap- 
peared to  be  a tall  figure  iu  the  white  habiliments  of  the 
grave,  gently  waving  to  and  fro.  There  it  was  directly 
by  the  roadway  before  him  ! Thecold  sweat  gathered  upon 
his  brow  at  the  fear  that  Heaven  had  sent  it  as  a rebuke 
for  his  temerity  in  speaking  as  he  did.  If  it  be  of  God, 
thought  he,  I will  at  least  attempt  to  learn  His  will.  He 
approached  the  object,  and  found  it  to  be  a bunch  of  tall 
dog-fennel,  white  in  the  moonlight  and  frost!  Thus  he 
saw  the  optical  illusion  by  which  the  startled  believers  in 
the  supernatural  held  to  and  spread  their  belief  against 
all  reason.  From  this  time  superstition,  with  its  con- 
comitant horse-shoes  before  doors  and  salt  around  dwell- 
ings, disappeared  from  all  the  regions  around  Spring 
Hill. 

SCOTCH  SERVICE, 


or  preaching  and  singing  in  the  Gaelic  language,  was  in- 
dispensable for  many  years  in  the  churches  throughout 
the  Scotch  region.  Many  of  the  old  Highlanders  could 
scarcely  speak  a word  in  the  English  language,  and  could 
not  at  all  follow  a regular  discourse  in  it.  To  such  Elder 
White  preached  regularly  in  their  native  language;  Eng- 
lish in  the  morning  and  Gaelic  in  the  evening  was  the 
usual  order.  Well  does  the  writer  remember  the  exceed- 
ing impressiveness  of  the  Scotch  service,  as  conducted  in 
later  years.  In  the  evening,  when  the  preacher  entered 
the  church,  the  grave,  stately  and  dignified  old  Scotch- 
men, with  their  attendant  dames,  would  file  slowly  and 


SCOTCH  SERVICE. 


37 


solemnly  in.  No  people  (bless  their  memory)  reverenced 
God,  His  church  and  service  more  than  they.  We  give 
the  Scotch  and  English  of  a brief  hymn  : 

SALM  CXXXIII. 

1.  O feuch,  cia  meud  am  maitli  anis, 
cia  meud  an  tlachd  faraon, 

Braithrean,  a blii  nan  comhnuidk  ghna 
an  sith ’s  an  ceangal  caoin. 

•2.  Mar  ola  phrifeil  air  a’  cheann, 
ruidh  air  an  fheufaig  fios,  ■ 

'S  s feufag  Aroin,  agus  fhruth 
gu  iomall  eudaich  ’ris. 

3-  Mar  dhealt  air  Hermon,  ’s  mar  an  druchd 
air  fleibhtibh,  Sbioin  flms; 

’N  fin  dh’orduich  Dia  am  beannuchadh, 
a bhealha  fliiorruidh  bliuan. 


PSALM  CXXXIII. 

1.  Behold,  how  good  a thing  it  is, 

And  how  becoming  well, 

Together,  such  as  brethren  are, 

In  unity  to  dwell  ! 

2.  Like  precious  ointment  on  the  head, 

That  down  the  beard  did  flow, 

Ev’n  Aaron’s  beard,  and  to  the  skirts 
Did  of  his  garments  go. 

3.  As  Herman’s  dew,  the  dew  that  doth 

On  Zion’s  hill’s  descend; 

For  there  the  blessing  God  commands, 
Life  that  shall  never  end. 


Which  being  given  out,  every  one  would  enter  with  zest 


38 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


into  the  singing.  We  always  heard  them  sing  to  one  3 
tune — a common-metre — said  to  be  Communion.  The 
individual  traits  of  each  singer  stood  out  in  bold  relief — I 
some  fast,  some  slow — but  all  indescribably  solemn.  The! 3 
impressive  prayer,  and  then  the  sermon.  During  the  de-j 1 
livery  of  this,  no  beholder — no  matter  though  utterly! 
ignorant  of  the  language — could  well  refrain  from  tears. 
There  under  the  droppings  of  the  sanctuary  were  the [ 
bowed  gray  heads,  heedless  of  everything  but  the  “ words  ; 
of  life”  to  which  they  were  listening;  while 

“ Oft  the  big,  unbidden  tear, 

Stealing  down  the  furrowed  cheek, 

Told,  in  eloquence  sincere, 

Tales  of  woe  they  could  not  speak.” 

Most  of  these  noble  old  nioneers  have  gone  to  their  re- 

x CD 

ward — 

■ 

“■  Their  mena’ry  a blessing, 

Their  friendship  a truth,” 

and  the  world  made  better  that  they  lived  in  it. 

These,  through  the  instrumentality  of  Elder  White, 
were  indeed  led  by  a way  that  they  knew  not,  and  crooked 
things  were  made  straight  to  them. 

APPEARANCE  AND  TRAITS. 

The  Rev.  Daniel  White  was  of  a pleasing  and  com- 
manding appearance  and  address;  well-built  and  broad- 
shouldered  ; of  a thoughtful  and  gentle  caste  of  counte- 
nance, black  hair  and  eyes,  and  fair  complexion.  He 
greatly  loved  children,  and  always  won  their  love.  Of 


APPEARANCE  AND  TRAITS. 


39 


active,  penetrating  mind,  and  never  at  rest  when  not 
tively  engaged  in  his  Master’s  service,  in  which  he  was 
iquent,  and  urged  the  truth,  in  love,  upon  all  he  could 
ach.  He  was  patient  under  hardships,  and  very  little 
ncerned  about  worldly  gains  or  losses.  To  illustrate : 
is  three  horses  were  one  summer  day  in  the  pasture, 
ben  there  came  up  a sudden  thunder-shower.  A heavy 
ap  of  thunder,  followed  by  the  appearance  of  one  of  the 
arses,  frightened  and  crippled,  caused  his  wife  to  take 
ar  bonnet  and  shawl.  “Where,  wife?”  said  he.  “To 
it  the  other  horses,”  said  she;  “they  might  be  struck 
ith  lightning.”  “And  if  they  are,”  said  he,  “you  can- 
at  help  them,  and  you  must  not  endanger  yourself.” 
fter  the  shower  his  servant  told  him  the  two  horses  were 
lied.  “ Well,”  said  he  composedly,  “ bury  them  there.” 
Tth  him  earthly  things,  in  comparison  with  heavenly 
lings,  were  accounted  as  nothing;  with  him  the  salva- 
on  of  souls  was  the  one  thing  needful.  “ Many  souls  for 
is  hire”  was  his  great  and  paramount  aim.  The  value 
one  soul  he  estimated  at  more  than  ten  thousand 
orlds  like  this.  Therefore,  soul  prosperity — building 
igli  and  strong  the  walls  of  his  beloved  Zion,  the  spread 
f Christ’s  kingdom  upon  the  earth — was  his  first,  great 
nd  almost  only  concern. 

SEASONS  OF  REFRESHING. 

His  zeal  and  earnestness,  as  well  as  his  willingness  to 
o wherever  he  could  accomplish  the  most  good,  caused 
dm  often  to  be  sent  to  distant  fields,  to  labor  as  mis- 
ionary  in  Associational  bounds.  One  year,  while  thus 


40 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


if 


engaged  in  the  Raleigh  Association,  his  labors  were  s 
nally  blessed  at  Louisburg,  Franklin  county,  N.  C.  rJ 
services  were  held  at  an  old-fashioned  stand,  surround 
by  arbors  covered  with  green  twigs  and  branches  fr 
the  trees.  The  congregation  was  immense — many  fr 
Raleigh  and  a distance  were  there.  It  was  described  a 
pentacostal  season  indeed.  With  the  very  beginning 
the  service,  the  Holy  Spirit  seemed  to  come  down  w 
great  power  upon  the  congregation  ; and  before  the  clc 
nearly  the  whole  vast  concourse  were  upon  their  kne 
crying,  earnestly,  “ What  must  we  do  to  be  saved  ?”  Ma 
were  converted  and  baptized  during  this  meeting.  Mu 
good  was  done,  and  many  blessings  followed  the  labors 
the  Rev.  Daniel  White  during  this  year  in  the  Assoc 
tion. 

Some  time  about  the  year  1820,  there  was  a genui 
revival  of  religion  at  Spring  Hill,  the  good  fruits 
which  are  till  this  very  day  apparent.  During  a qu 
terly  meeting  there,  Elder  White  perceived  manifestatio 
of  a work  of  grace  in  his  congregation.  He,  therefore, 
Sunday  appointed  preaching  at  his  own  house.  Oppo 
tunely,  on  that  night  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Dossey  and  Dani 
(William  Dossey,  so  well  known  as  author  of  the  “ Choice 
hymn  book,  and  R.  T.  Daniel,  Corresponding  Secretary 
the  Home  and  Foreign  Mission  Board)  stopped  at  Elc 
White’s,  on  their  way  from  Fayetteville  to  Cheraw,  S. 
Thus  reenforced  by  such  able  and  zealous  men  of  Go< 
Elder  White  made  preparations  and  a goodly  congreg 
tion  assembled.  Preaching  began,  and,  said  an  eye-wi 
ness,  then  a young  girl,  “ there  were  old  people  and  youn 
men  and  maidens,  right  before  me,  crying  aloud  and  cal 


SEASONS  OK  REFRESHING. 


41 


j mercy.  My  heart  was  deeply  touched,  and  I never 
h forget  the  scene.”  After  the  manner  and  zeal  of  Paul, 
‘d'se  faithful  ministers  continued  preaching  all  night, 
irii  in  the  morning  there  was  great  rejoicing  in  that 
%se  as  well  as  in  the  Courts  of  Heaven  over  the  “ gather- 
home”  of  poor  prodigals — happy  converts  in  their 
'Hi'est  love.  Many  of  those  who  then  joined,  afterwards 
w:ame  pillars  in  the  church,  and  all  “did  what  they 
‘‘Aid  for  the  Master.” 

ieAmong  others  who  joined  at  that  meeting  was  Elder 
aihn  Monroe.  He  was  the  only  son  of  a devoted  and 
!Iidus  mother,  a zealous  and  faithful  follower  of  her  Sa- 
aDur.  She  w as  present,  and  we  can  easily  imagine  the 
eijag  of  prayer  and  praise  that  went  up  from  her  glad 
art  to  the  throne  of  mercy  and  love. 

11  To  show  the  earnestness  for  the  salvation  of  souls  per- 
.ding  all  ranks  at  this  time,  we  may  mention  that  a few 
!,ys  after  this  meeting,  Elder  White  was  plowing  in  his 
hid.  Mr.  Leitch,  a sturdy,  pious  farmer  of  the  neighbor- 
hod,  sternly — almost  fiercely — bade  him,  in  a loud  voice 
3 Dm  the  highway,"  My  brother,  leave  that  plow  ! Drop 
>ur  reins  ! Go  out ; tell  sinners  their  danger — tell  them 
God,  of  heaven,  of  hell ! Go,  and  God  will  bless  you.” 
As  Elder  White’s  pilgrimage  upon  earth  drew  nearer 
a close,  his  services  were  more  signally  blessed  and 
vned  of  God.  He  could  look  back  upon  the  travail 
’ his  soul  and  be  satisfied  at  the  mercy  and  goodness  of 
le  great  Captain  of  his  salvation. 

Rev.  John  Monroe  says  of  Elder  White  at  this  time : 
In  those  early  days,  when  the  churches  were  few  and 
eak,  he  labored  extensively  as  an  evangelist.  His  efforts 


42 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


ii 


were  greatly  blessed  in  Duplin  and  New  Hanover  co\ 
ties.  Among  the  seals  of  the  ministry  in  this  region  w 
Elder  George  Fennell,  in  his  day  one  of  the  most  popul 
and  useful  ministers  in  the  Eastern  Association. 

We  cannot  forbear  relating  further  of  this  able  a 
worthy  divine  that,  when  a young  man  and  preparing 
go  the  State  Legislature  to  which  he  had  been  elect' 
Elder  White  stopped  at  his  father’s  on  Saturday  night 
have  preaching  at  the  neighboring  church  on  Sunda 
Young  George  Fennell,  though  not  a professor  of  religic 
said  he  could  not  attend  church  on  the  morrow,  as  he  w 
compelled  to  make  preparations  to  go  to  the  Legislate 
“ My  son,”  said  his  pious  old  father,  “ what  is  the  State,  t 
nation,  or  the  world  compared  to  your  soul’s  salvatio 
tion.  You  may  never  hear  another  Gospel  sermon,  n 
son.  You  must  go  to  church.”  Young  George  Fennt 
did  go  to  church,  and  was  on  that  day  “convinced  of  si 
of  righteousness,  and  of  an  awful  judgment  to  come,”  ar 
became  a true  and  happy  convert,  and  afterwards  a fait 
ful  minister  of  the  gospel.  Elder  Fennell  went  and  pe 
formed  his  public  duties  well,  but  returned  home  ful 
imbued  with  the  spirit  that  it  is  “ better  to  be  a doo 
keeper  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  than  to  dwell  in  the  ten 
of  wickedness.”  He  wrote  a very  affecting  letter  to  Elde 
White,  styling  him  throughout  as  “ Dear  Father,”  an 
urging  him  to  come  up  to  the  “ help  of  the  Lord  again 
the  mighty;”  to  come  over  and  help  gather  in  the  prodi 
gal  sons,  of  which  there  were  so  many  in  his  region, 
their  father’s  house.  Thus  we  see  how  diligently  Eldel 
White  “ sowed  beside  all  waters,”  and  how  the  rich  fruit 
were  returning  to  him  as  his  “crown  of  rejoicing.”  W 


SEASONS  OF  REFRESHING. 


43 


over  what  a wide  field  he  set  the  armies  of  the  living 
d in  array  against  the  powers  of  darkness.  He  waved 
•;h  the  banner  of  the  Cross ; he  buckled  about  them  the 
ole  armor  of  the  unerring  Word.  Amidst  the  darkest 
ars  and  severest  trials,  his  faith  remained  firm  and  un- 
iken.  Unmindful  alike  of  man’s  censures  or  praises* 
fought  on  for  God  and  for  Truth. 

“ Faith,  mighty  faith,  the  promise  sees, 

And  looks  to  that  alone; 

Laughs  at  impossibilities, 

And  cries,  ! It  shall  be  done’  !” 

And  as  his  faith,  so  it  was  with  him. 


44 


LIFE  OP  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


it 


kr 


A Chapter  of  Incidents. 


. 


There  are  no  truer  sayings  than  that  the  “ memory  i 
the  just  is  blessed,”  and  that  a “good  name  is  bett 
than  riches.”  Since  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Whi 
many  events  have  occurred,  going  to  prove  the  greatne 
of  his  life’s  work,  and  how  deeply  he  has  moved  the  pe> 
pie  among  whom  it  was  his  lot  to  labor. 

But  a few  years  ago,  John  Monroe  Johnson,  Esq.,  wi 
travelling  in  a buggy,  in  South  Carolina,  seventy -fh 
miles  from  home,  when,  seeing  a feeble  old  lady  on  t 
highway,  apparently  tired  out  with  walking,  he  aske! 
her  to  ride  with  him.  As  they  rode  on,  she  spoke  of  t 
goodness  and  mercy  of  God,  showing  a deeply  pioi 
nature  and  a heart  at  rest  in  her  Saviour.  Passing  aver 
old  church,  she  pointed  her  trembling  finger  to  it,  sa^ 
ing  : “ Oh,  what  times  of 'refreshing — what  peace — pa 
understanding,  God  has  given  us  there,  under  the  preae 
ing  of  that  mighty  man  of  God,  Rev.  Daniel  White 
Mr.  Johnson  informed  her  that  he  was  his  grand-soi 
Whereupon  the  old  lady  put  her  arms  about  his  neck  an 
wept  upon  his  shoulder.  She  told  him  many  of  tb 
noble  deeds  and  traits  of  his  ancestor-— his  faith — h 
power — his  goodness' — his  purity  of  heart  and  life,  cau 
ing  the  grandson  to  feel  the  full  force  of  the  truth  thi 
the  “ memory  of  the  just  is  blessed.” 


“bread  cast  upon  the  waters.”  _ 45 

Rev.  E.  L.  Davis,  of  Anson,  in  a speech  on  missions  be- 
>re  the  Baptist  State  Convention  in  1878,  narrated  with 
trilling  effect,  that  he  had  recently  baptized  an  old  man, 
•ho  dated  his  conviction  and  subsequent  conversion  to 
sermon  he  heard  the  Rev.  Daniel  White  preach  in  his 
oyhood.  Not  only  in  the  times  when  his  eloquent  voice 
■('as  heard  and  his  earnest  manner  beheld  were  these 
Reasons  of  refreshing  enjoyed — for  often  then  there  were 
,il  pentecostal  seasons” — but  for  half  a century  these  burn- 
ing words  have  been  contending  for  the  mastery  over 
e atural  indwelling  sin,  and  finally  triumphed  ! Those 
rords  of  truth,  like  winged  arrows  showered  among  the 
oves,  have  through  all  these  years,  kept  them  “flocking 
o the  windows,”  or  like  poor  prodigals  returning  weak 
nd  heart  sore  to  their  “ father’s  house.”  Oh  the  pov/er 
f true  goodliness — the  “ foolishness”  of  preaching! 

Come,  saith  the  living  preacher — 

After  death  his  voice  echoes  come  l 
r “ Come,”  saith  the  Spirit ! 

The  Bride  saith  “come.” 

“ Come,  saith  Jesus’  sacred  voice, 

Come,  and  make  my  paths  your  choice, 

I will  guide  you  to  your  home; 

Weary  wanderer,  hither  come.” 

Though  dead,  the  righteous  “yet  speaketh.”  “Their 
vorks  do  follow  them.”  Their  good  name  and  holy  lives 
jells  the  impenitent,  “So  prepare  to  meet  thy  God.” 

Their  awakening  words,  long  after  their  bodies  have 
crumbled  to  dust,  still  whisper  warning  and  counsel  to 
.he  wayward  : 

“ Repent,  O sinner,  for  you  must  die!" 


4G 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


Oh,  how  many  are'  still  preaching  here,  whose  glorified 
spirits  are  singing  praises  to  the  Most  High  in  the  eter- 
nal courts  above ! 

Who  does  not  feel  ! 

Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul. 

Let  me  to  thy  bosom  fly.” 

Who  does  not  desire  to  live  the  life  of  the  righteous), 
that  our  last  end  may  be  like  his?  Jesus  is  the  “ way,” 
the  “door,”  the  “life,” — and  can  make  a 

— “ Dying  bed 

Feel  soft  as  downy  pillows  are.” 


Once  in  the  Ashpole  section  of  Robeson  county,  as 
some  there  desired  to  hear  him,  Rev.  Daniel  White,  as 
the  Baptists  had  no  church  there,  asked  of  another  de- 
nomination the  privilege  of  preaching  in  their  church. 
All  were  willing  but  one  elder.  Elder  White  therefore, 
in  deference  to  him,  declined  preaching  in  the  church, 
but  pointing  to  the  groves  he  said,  “ the  earth  is  the. 
Lord’s  and  the  fullness  thereof,  therefore  on  His  footstool 
we  will  serve  Him.”  And  there  in  the  open  grove,  he 
delivered  a very  able  discourse.  Near  this  place  a goodly 
Baptist  brotherhood  nowr  assemble  to  worship,  in  a com- 
fortable church  called  Mount  Moriah.  Though  gentle 
and  modest  in  his  disposition,  yet  while  about  his  Mas- 
ter’s business,  nothing  could  daunt  or  swerve  him  from 
the  path  of  duty.  If  he  had  an  appointment  to  preach, 


JUDGE  YE  NOT, 


47 


u 


» 

> 


;he  people  well  knew  that  only  death  or  some  similar 
calamity  could  prevent  its  fulfillment.  Storms,  tempests, 
fioods  or  opposition,  formed  but  feeble  impediments  to 
him. 

The  quick  gathering  tempest  of  his  native  land,  and 
its  fierce  mountain  torrents,  surpassed  anything  here- 
While  in  Scotland  he  had  preached  in  the  face  of  banish- 
ment or  any  punishment  malice  could  invent.  What, 
therefore,  cared  he  for  the  feeble  opposition  offered  in  a 
land  of  liberty  of  conscience,  when  the  salvation  of  his 
people  was  concerned.  Thus  in  many  places  he  opened 
out  highways,  fitted  up  springs  in  thirsty  lands,  cheered 
the  strong,  assisted  the  weak,  and  administered  consola- 
to  those  “ ready  to  faint.” 


Upon  one  occasion  just  before  starting  on  one  of  his 
long  missionary  tours,  Elder  White  found  that  his  family 
were  out  of  corn.  Therefore  he  went  for  the  needful  sup- 
plies, as  the  most  likely  place  to  get  it  at  once,  to  a 
wealthy  but  miserly  and  isolated  neighbor,  who  he  knew 
had  an  abundance.  This  man  knew  he  had  no  time  to 
look  around  for  better  terms,  as  his  appointments  were 
out,  therefore  he  took  advantage  of  the  situation,  and 
charged  $2.00  a bushel  for  corn — almost  double  the  then 
ruling  price.  Elder  White  took  it  and  when  his  family 
complained  of  the  extortion,  he  forbade  them,  saying  they 
“ must  not  judge.”  Years  afterwards,  the  great  wealth 
of  this  man,  which  he  prized  so  much,  was  swept  away, 
and  he  came  to  the  family  of  Elder  White  for  corn — 


48 


LIFE  OF  KEV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


which  they  let  him  have  at  a very  low  figure.  Sinking 
still  lower  in  this  world’s  goods,  as  well  as  infirmities, 
they  administered  to  his  wants  without  remuneration. 

This  incident  is  introduced  merely  to  show  a trait  in 
the  character  of  Elder  White,  which  was  never  to  com- 
plain— never  to  “judge,”  even  though  injustice  or  extor- 
tion were  done  him.  It  shows,  too,  how  poor  a bauble 
wealth  is — riches,  often,  very  suddenly,  “ take  to  them- 
selves wings  and  fly  away.” 


As  an  illustration  of  the  remains  of  intolerance  against 
the  Baptists,  we  may  instance  the  case  of  Mr.  Achibald 
Graham,  a most  estimable  man,  who  was  engaged  to  be 
married  to  a lady.  The  day  for  the  marriage  was  set, 
and  all  things  made  ready,  when  just  before  the  happy 
occasion  his  intended  bride  found  that  he  inclined  to  im- 
mersion as  the  right  mode  of  baptism.  Not  knowing 
that  in  this  desire  of  obedience  to  the  Divine  command, 
he  had  committed  an  unpardonable  offense,  he  repaired 
at  the  appointed  time  to  the  home  of  his  beloved,  to  claim 
her  as  .his  bride.  There  the  company  was  assembled,  the 
minister  and  waiters  all  present.  All  was  ready  but  the 
expectant  bride — an  important  adjunct  at  such  a cere- 
mony. She  could  not  be  induced  to  come  forward — for 
she  ivould  not  marry  a Baptist  1 What  then  ? 

One  of  the  brides-maids,  a cousin  of  Mr.  Graham,  an 
accomplished  and  beautiful  lady,  pittying,  it  may  be,  the 
sad  plight  of  her  cousin,  and  pity  is  said  to  be  akin  to: 
love — stepped  forward  and  offered  to  become  his  bride. 


SPRING  HILL  CHURCH  ORGANIZED. 


49 


This  offer  he  gladly  accepted,  and  they  were  then  and 
there  made  one.  They  were  a happy  couple,  and  he  was 
a useful  Deacon  and  exhorter  in  the  Spring  Hill  church, 
over  which  Elder  White  was  pastor. 


ElderWhite  was  greatly  pleased  when  Spring  Hill  church 
was  organized,  as  he  well  might  have  been,  from  the  ma- 
terial of  which  it  was  composed.  They  were  his  country- 
men. They  were  strong  in  the  faith,  and  in  a commu- 
nity where  Baptists  before  that  time  were  little  known. 
They  were  nearly  all  his  children  in  Christ.  Mr.  John 
White,  a nephew  of  his,  saw  a letter  he  was  writing  to  his 
friends  in  Scotland  about  this  joyful  event,  in  which  he 
well  remembers  the  passage:  “ I^have  organized  a church 
at  Spring  Hill,  North  Carolina,  consisting  of  seven  mem- 
bers, all  of  whom  except  my  wife,  are  my  children  in 
Christ.”  No  doubt  the  whole  letter  was  full  of  love  and 
praise  to  God. 


3 


50 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

His  Work  for  Missions. 

Most  of  our  readers  have  doubtless  made  themselves 
familiar  with  the  lives  and  labors  of  those  great  and  good 
men.  Adoniram  Judson  and  Luther  Rice.  They  know 
of  their  having  been  sent  by  opposers  of  baptism  by 
immersion  as  missionaries  to  Burmah.  They  know  that 
out  in  mid  ocean  their  Bibles  and  prayers  for  God’s 
guidance,  without  any  human  influence,  brought  them 
into  the  Baptist  faith  and  belief.  Therefore,  cut  off  from 
the  denomination  by  which  they  were  sent  out,  they  had 
to  seek  aid  from  the  Baptists,  that  they  might  seek  the 
salvation  of  those  benighted  heathen.  They  know  of 
Luther  Rice’s  return  for  this  purpose,  of  his  success  in  his 
efforts,  and  of  his  mighty  work  for  the  Columbian  Col- 
lege. They  know,  too,  that  the  Baptists  did  sustain  Jud- 
son and  other  faithful  missionaries  abroad.  They  know 
how  signally  God  has  blessed  those  mighty  missionaries, 
as  instruments  in  His  hands  for  the  conversion  of  the 
heathen.  But  they  may  not  know  of  the  ceaseless  and 
tireless  labors  of  Elder  White  and  his  zealous  arid  ener- 
getic wife  in  this  direction.  The  Rev.  Luther  Rice  often 

G? 

made  the  home  of  Elder  White  his  abiding  place  in  his 
missionary  tours  through  the  country,  and  in  him  and 
his  family  he  found  congenial  spirits  in  his  noble  efforts 
for  the  spread  of  the  gospel  in  heathen  lands.  Elder 
White’s  labors  in  this  direction  were  indeed  herculean  ; 
and  so  great  was  the  impetus  by  which  his  eloquence  and 


HIS  EFFORTS  FOR  FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 


51 


example  imbued  the  Baptists  throughout  the  whole  broad 
belt  in  which  he  preached,  that  they  have  abated  but  lit- 
tle till  this  day,  and  such  a name  as  “Hardshell”  we  do 
not  think  exists  in  it.  Nor  was  his  wife  any  less  zealous 
in  her  humbler  sphere.  She  inaugurated  a Woman’s 
Missionary  Society,  all  being  required  to  make  systematic 
contributions  for  Foreign  Missions.  The}r  secured  funds 
mostly  by  the  sale  of  chickens,  eggs,  butter  and  such  like 
articles  as  they  could  sell  at  McLeod’s  Hotel,  on  the  stage 
road  between  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  and  Cheraw,  S.  C.  They 
even  believed  that  these  things  increased  on  their  hands 
in  the  ratio  of  their  sales,  and  that  they  still  had  as  many 
chickens,  &c.,  after  all  their  sales  and  contributions  to 
missions,  as  did  those  who  did  not  sell  or  contribute  any- 
thing. We  can  readily  believe  it  for  the  widow’s  flour 
was  something  like  that.  Mrs.  White  also  enlisted  the 
young  people — boys  and  girls  of  the  neighborhood — to  do 
what  they  could  for  the  poor  heathen.  The  children  in 
the  Children’s  Missionary  Society  were  to  contribute  ten 
cents  quarterly  for  this  object. 

Both  of  these  societies,  under  the  guidance  of  Mrs. 
White,  were  successfully  conducted, and  contributed  much 
to  the  aid  of  Foreign  Missions.  To  show  the  alacrity  with 
which  the  children  entered  into  the  work,  we  may  in- 
stance the  case  of  a poor  family,  by  the  name  of  Watson, 
in  their  neighborhood.  Mrs.  Watson — an  earnest,  zeal- 
ous Baptist  and  faithful  worker — taugh  her  children  in 
the  way  they  should  go  ; and  Hugh,  her  son,  a member 
of  the  society,  took  great  pleasure  in  contributing  when 
he  could  get  the  means.  One  day,  almost  desponding  of 
securing  his  quarterly  mite,  he  brought,  as  a present,  a 


52 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


few  fish  he  had  caught  to  Mrs.  White.  She  gave  him  a 
shilling,  “ and,”  said  she,  “ he  leaped  about  like  David 
before  the  Ark,  with  joy,  exclaiming,  ‘0,  I can  give  this 
to  the  poor  heathen.’  ” This  Mr.  Hugh  Watson  was 
afterwards  a pillar  in  the  church,  and  was  greatly  pros- 
pered in  his  home,  near  Selma,  Alabama,  where  he  took 
his  mother  and  the  family.  Afterwards,  on  a visit  to 
his  native  State  and  to  Mrs.  White,  he  informed  her  that 
from  that  early  age  he  had  resolved  to  give  as  the  Lord 
increased  him,  and  he  was  then  giving  fifty  dollars  yearly 
to  the  cause. 

The  writer  well  remembers  his  manly  figure,  benign 
countenance  and  touching  address,  as,  on  one  of  his  visits 
to  North  Carolina,  Rev.  John  Monroe  asked  him,  after 
service  on  the  Sabbath,  if  he  would  not  say  something. 
He  arose,  and  in  melting  language  portrayed  the  joys  of 
Christian  fellowship  and  reunion,  quoting  a verse  of 
Burns : 

“ It  heat9  me,  it  beats  me, 

It  sets  me  on  flame, 

It  warms  me,  it  charms  me,”  &c., 

to  be  in  His  church  and  among  His  people.  The  name 
of  Jesus  is  sweet,  is  precious  here,  but  how  glorious  it  will 
be  to  be  with  Him  and  His  redeemed  in  heaven  ! “ Oh,” 

said  he,  “I  had  rather  be  a doorkeeper  in  the  house  of  the 
Lord  than  dwell  in  the  tents  of  wickedness.” 

Such  were  the  children  reared  under  the  teaching  of 
Elder  White  and  his  wife,  and  in  the  true  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord. 

Besides  the  Missionaries  Socities,  Mrs.  White  organized 
a Wednesday  night  meeting,  held  in  rotation  at  the 


HIS  LAST  JOURNEY. 


53 


houses  of  the  members  of  the  church.  These  meetings 
were  continued  through  a period  of  about  forty  }rears,  and 
they  were  the  means  of  introducing  the  gospel,  in  its  pu- 
rity, to  many  in  the  neighborhood  of  members  who,  but 
for  this  means,  would  have  been  almost  without  it.  In 
these  meetings,  too,  the  members  did  not  neglect  the  as- 
sembling of  themselves  often  together,  and  the  good  fruits 
were  seen  and  felt  through  that  long  period. 

ELDER  white’s  LAST  JOURNEY. 

For  some  days  before  he  started  on  his  last  missionary 
tour,  Elder  White,  although  apparently  in  his  usual  good 
health,  expressed  his  belief  that  his  work  on  earth  was 
nearly  finished,  and  manifested  unusual  anxiety  for  put- 
ting “ his  house  in  order,”  and  in  arranging  for  the  well- 
being and  future  comfort  of  his  family.  He  advised  his 
wife  of  his  premonitions,  and  asked  her  to  accompany 
him.  She  urged  the  press  of  business  in  preparations  for 
an  Association  at  Welch  Neck,  South  Carolina,  which  he 
was  to  attend  immediately  on  his  return  from  Duplin  and 
New  Hanover  counties,  and  to  which  she  and  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  would  accompany  him.  After  bidding 
his  family  farewell  and  going  to  the  gate,  where  his  horse 
awaited  him,  he  returned  to  the  house  to  ask  his  wife  if 
she  could  not  accompany  him.  She  replied  that,  though 
she  wished  much  to  do  so,  she  could  not.  He  then  bade 
all  an  affecting,  and  what  proved  to  be  a last  farewell 
upon  earth. 

Elder  White  went  out  through  Fayetteville  and  down 
the  Cape  Fear  to  his  field  of  labor  in  the  Cape  Fear  Asso- 


54 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


ciation.  He  engaged  in  earnest  preaching,  and  in  the 
midst  of  one  of  his  sermons  he  was  stricken  down  by  sick- 
ness. He  was  removed  by  gentle  and  loving  hands  to 
the  house  of  Mr.  Henry,  where,  after  two  days  of  fever* 
which  they  did  not  consider  dangerous,  he  suddenly  grew 
worse  and  died,  in  the  full  assurance  of  a blissful  immor- 
tality. 

Here  ended  the  earthly  life  of  this  great  and  good  man 
of  God,  in  the  year  1824. 

In  the  mean  time  his  wife  had  heard  nothing  of  his 
sickness  or  death.  The  preparations  for  the  Associational 
trip  were  completed.  The  family  were  all  in  the  eager 
anticipation  that  night  of  the  return  of  the  loved  hus- 
band and  father.  In  the  evening,  Mrs.  White  called  upon 
a sick  neighbor,  intending  to  be  back  home  in  time  to 
meet  her  husband.  That  evening  Mrs.  Gilchrist  received 
a letter  for  Mrs.  White  with  the  black  seal,  indicative  of 
death.  Opining  its  sad  import,  and  believing  no  one 
could  so  gently  break  the  news  as  herself  to  her  friend, 
she  took  the  letter  and  found  Mrs.  White  at  the  sick 
neighbor’s.  As  Mrs.  White  prepared  to  leave,  Mrs.  Gil- 
christ accompanied  her,  and  when  some  distance  on  the 
way,  she  handed  her  the  letter.  Mrs.  White  read,  and 
dropping  the  letter,  fell  helpless  into  the  arms  of  her 
friend.  Mrs.  Gilchrist  soothed  her  as  best  she  could,  and 
then  accompanied  her  home,  evincing  a degree  of  sensi- 
tive refinement  which  only  true  hearts  contain.  Another 
shock  to  the  bereaved  family  was  the  return  of  the  horse 
and  empty  saddle.  Now  they  felt  all  the  bitterness  and 
pain  of  their  mighty  loss,  but  consolation  came  in  the 
knowledge  that  he  had  battled  bravely  and  fallen  glori- 


SICKNESS  AND  DEATH. 


55 


ously  in  the  service  of  the  Great  King,  to  whom  he  had 
committed  them,  and  with  whom  he  was  now  gone  to 
live  forever  and  ever. 

Elder  White’s  concern  for  his  family  before  his  last 
journey  was  not  unnoted  by  Him  wdio  numbers  the  hairs 
of  the  head  and  bottles  up  the  tears  of  his  saints,  as  well 
as  “ tempers  the  winds  to  the  shorn  lamb,”  notices  every 
sparrow  that  falls  to  the  ground,  and  hears  the  young 
ravens  when  they  cry  for  food.  Every  member  of  his 
family  w7ere  early  gathered  into  the  fold  and  nurtured 
under  “the  tender  Shepherd’s  care.”  His  family,  too, 
were  abundantly  blest  in  “basket  and  in  store,”  and  how7 
sw7eet  and 

“ precious  was  the  gift 

He  to  his  loved  ones  gave — 

The  stainless  memory  of  the  just, 

The  wealth  beyond  the  grave.” 

Some  years  aftenvards,  Mrs.  White  and  her  son-in-law7, 
Charles  Livingston,  placed  a tomb-stone  over  the  dust  of 
this  noble  man  of  God,  and  did  all  that  loving  hearts 
could  to  decorate  his  last  resting  place.  Here,  then, 
where  his  peaceful  body  will  rest  till  the  last  trump  will 
summon  all  nations  to  the  judgment,  is  it  not  w'ell  w7e 
should  ask  “ What  think  ye  of  Christ?” 

Elder  White  thought  Him  “ the  chief  among  ten  thou- 
sand, and  the  one  altogether  lovely.”  In  Him  he  trusted, 
for  Him  he  labored,  and  for  that  labor  of  love  he  forsook 
home,  country,  friends,  and  all  his  heart  esteemed  so  dear, 
and  in  Him  yielded  up  his  spirit,  in  the  blissful  assurance 
of  a glorious  eternity.  Over  death  and  the  grave  he  could 
cry  out  in  the  triumphs  of  victory  : “ I know  that  my  Re- 
deemer liveth.” 


56 


LIFE  OF  EEV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


How  awful,  in  comparison,  the  death  scenes  of  Voltaire, 
Paine  and  the  wretched  infidels  who  went  shrieking 
away,  without  “ God  or  hope  in  the  world.”  How  with 
poor  Queen  “Bess,”  who  lived  only  for  glory?  “My 
kingdom  for  an  inch  of  time.”  With  Lord  Chesterfield, 
who  lived  only  for  self  and  formal  vanities?  In  sub- 
stance, he  exclaimed : “ I have  estimated  life  at  its  full 
value;  I have  counted  the  cost;  and  though  I have  wo 
hope  in  the  future,  yet  I would  not  live  over  life  again.” 
With  Lord  Byron,  who  only  lived  for  fame  and  vanity? 


“ My  life  is  in  the  sere  and  yellow  leaf, 
Love’s  pleasures  gone — 

For  me  the  canker  and  the  grief 
Remain  alone  !” 


With  Paul,  who  lived  for  Christ?  “ I have  fought  a good 
fight,  I have  kept  the  faith,  I have  finished  the  work 
Thou  gavest  me  to  do.  Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for 
me  a crown  of  righteousness,  which  God,  the  righteous 
Judge,  will  give  me  in  that  day.”  Thus  die  the  believers 
and  those  who  believe  not  in  Jesus. 


“ The  battle  of  our  life  is  brief  : 

The  alarm,  the  struggle,  the  relief, 

Then  sleep  we  side  by  side.” 

Jesus,  in  the  depth  of  his  love  for  our  fallen  race,  cried 
out  in  his  last  agonies : “ Father,  forgive  them,  for  they 
know  not  what  they  do.”  From  the  high  courts  of  heaven 
He  came  down  to  suffer  poverty  that  we  might  be  rich  ; 
and,  oh,  wondrous  love ! while  we  were  yet  enemies,  He 
died  that  we  might  live. 


CONCLUSION. 


57 


Though  the  Ingersolls,  Darwins,  Huxleys  and  Tyn- 
dalls may  raise  their  feeble  arms  against  Him,  let  it 
be  ours  to  cleave  the  closer  to  Him — to  attempt  each 
day  to  love  Him  more  and  serve  Him  better.  He  is  our 
Saviour — the  way  and  the  life — the  door  to  heaven.  With 
Him,  we  have  a right  to  the  tree  of  life — to  go  in  through 
the  gates  into  the  city.  Without  Him,  we  are  lost  with 
all  the  nations  who  forget  God.  He  loved  us.  He  died 
for  us : 

“ Only  Jesus,  only  Jesus, 

Can  do  helpless  sinners  good.” 

Like  Elder  White--like  the  good  and  true  men  through 
all  the  ages — let  us  attempt  to  be  faithful  servants  in  His 
vineyard ; and  in  word,  thought  and  deed,  do  all  we  can 
for  the  Master,  that  at  last,  with  the  glorious  throng  at 
His  right  hand,  we  may  hear  the  welcome  plaudit,  “ Well 
done,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father.” 

CONCLUSION. 

We  have  given,  dear  reader,  a brief  and  imperfect 
sketch  of  a great  and  useful  life,  the  contemplation  of 
which  can  only  tend  to  good.  Elder  White  was  about  40 
years  old  at  his  death,  and  his  bereaved  widow  survived 
him  forty-two  years,  devoting  that  time  to  the  further- 
ance of  her  Redeemer’s  kingdom ; and  at  her  death, 
which  occurred  on  January  29th,  1867,  it  was  found  that 
she  had  (out  of  the  wreck  left  her  by  Sherman’s  army)  be- 
queathed $50  to  Foreign  Missions,  $50  to  Wake  Forest 
College,  and  $100  to  her  beloved  pastor,  Elder  Monroe. 


58 


LIFE  OF  REV.  DANIEL  WHITE. 


Of  her,  how  truly  it  may  be  said  : 

“ Thy  soul,  renewed  by  grace  divine, 

In  God’s  own  image,  freed  from  clay. 
In  heaven’s  eternal  sphere  shall  shine 
A star  of  day.” 


Mrs.  Catherine  White. 


Events  in  Scotland. 


A few  incidents  and  events  may  here  be  given,  in 
illustration  of  the  great  awakening  and  manner  of  preach- 
ing in  Scotland  about  the  years  1799  and  1800. 

A rumor  was  heard  from  a distance  in  the  Highlands, 
of  a mighty  preacher  turning  things  upside  down  by  the 
power  of  his  ministry.  Some  said  he  was  mad — and 
those  who  heard  him  partook  of  his  malady.  Some  said 
he  was  of  God — because  his  preaching  was  like  that  of 
John  the  Bapt  st  in  the  wilderness  of  Judea.  Others  held 
that  he  must  be  possessed  of  a devil — from  the  power  he 
had  over  assemblies,  and  from  the  authorities  not  taking 
and  banishing  him  though  he  had  been  heard  of  in  sev- 
eral quarters.  Others  again,  believed  that  his  work  must 
be  pure  and  good — because  it  was  said  men  notoriously 
wicked  had  been  changed  about  to  excellent  men  after 
they  had  heard  him.  Thus  conjecture,  surmise,  wonder 
and  doubt  were  abroad  in  the  land — and  many,  led  by 
curiosity  and  other  causes,  managed  to  hear  him. 
Very  many  of  those  who  went  with  light  and  frivolous 
views,  returned  after  they  had  heard  him  under  a mighty 


GO 


MRS.  CATHERINE  WHITE. 


burthen  of  unpardoned  sin — with  the  keen  arrows  of 
conviction  impelling  them  to  cry  for  mercy.  Among 
others,  Duncan  and  Effie  Campbell,  brother  and  sister  of 
Catharine  Campbell,  (afterwards  Mrs.  White),  were  at  a 
distance  from  their  home  in  Rosneth,  and  heard  him  and 
were  both  brought  to  a saving  knowledge  of  the  truth. 
They  returned  home,  “ renewed  in  the  spirit  of  their 
minds,”  greatly  to  the  mortification  of  Catherine  and  her 
gay,  dancing  school  companions. 

Efhe  and  Duncan  took  no  delight  in  balls  and  dancing 
parties  now.  Catherine  and  her  companions,  or  dancing 
school  mates,  determined  they  would  make  Effie  attend  a 
ball,  which  was  at  a neighbor’s  house,  beyond  a pool  of 
water.  For  this  purpose  they  watched  their  opportunity, 
they  surrounded  her  and  took  her  by  main  strength,  de- 
spite her  efforts  to  the  contrary,  until  they  reached  the 
pool  of  water,  where,  being  attracted  by  the  thickness  of 
the  ice,  they  left  their  prisoner,  for  the  moment,  and  went 
to  skating  upon  it.  While  they  were  absorbed  in  this 
amusement,  Effie  slipped  away,  and  they  had  to  go  to  the 
ball  without  her. 

A few  weeks  after  this,  Catherine  was  thrown  into  con- 
sternation, by  learning  that  her  brother  Duncan  had  in- 
vited the  great  McArthur,  who  had  stirred  up  Scotland, 
to  preach  at  their  house  on  a certain  night.  She  first  de- 
termined she  would  attend  dancing  school  that  night — 
but  was  over-persuaded  to  remain  and  hear  him — much 
as  she  disliked  to.  He  came,  and  she  took  her  position 
in  a corner  behind  him,  to  see  and  hear,  but  not  be  seen, 
“but,”  said  she,  “ he  saw  me  and  all  the  company  in  that 


MRS.  CATHERINE  WHITE. 


61 


sermon, and  all  were  won  by  him — he  was  so  sincere,  strong 
and  true — and  several  were  brought  under  deep  convic- 
tion.” A Mr.  Lamont  was  at  their  house  that  night,  and 
a few  days  afterwards  she  heard  that  he  had  been 

BORN  AGAIN, 

and  Mr.  McArthur  would  preach  at  his  house  the  next 
night.  Amazed  beyond  measure  (for  she  was  not  a Bible 
reader,)  she  determined  she  would  go — the  man  after  the 
change  of  such  a marvellous  nature  being  the  main  ob- 
ject of  her  curiosity.  The  only  change  that  she  saw  was 
that  Lamont  looked  happy  and  at  rest,  whereas  he  had 
always  before  been  wild  and  boisterous  ! 

The  next  appointment  was  at  an  old  ruin,  near  by, 
where,  as  it  was  to  be  in  the  day  time,  she  and  her  dan- 
cing companions  concluded  to  get  on  the  old  crumbling 
wrall,  that  formed  part  of  the  enclosure  and  have  rare  fun 
all  to  themselves.  “ But,”  said  she,  “ I could  think  of 
nothing  but  the  sermon — the  burning  words  of  truth  and 
soberness — and  before  it  was  over,  I was  fain  to  hide  my- 
self under  the  shadow  of  the  wall,  and  weep  and  cry  for 
mercy  upon  my  sin-burthened  soul.” 

Rev.  John  Monroe  says: 

“Through  the  instrumentality  of  Daniel  McArthur,  a 
faithful  and  zealous  young  minister,  God  wras  pleased 
graciously  to  revive  His  work  in  Scotland  about  the  year 
J 800.  Many  were  drawn  from  a distance,  together,  by 
the  reports  of  the  good  work  which  spread  rapidly 
through  the  country.  Among  those  w^ho  came  through 


62 


MRS.  CATHERINE  WHITE. 


mere  curiosity,  was  Mrs.  White,  who  was  soon  made  to 
feel  the  quickening  of  the  Holy  Spirit;  and  after  a season 
of  pungent  conviction,  and  unfeigned  repentance,  she 
was  enabled  to  believe  in  tbe  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  to 
rejoice  in  Him  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.” 

The  revival  was  great  and  wide  spread  ; the  preaching 
of  a high  order,  and  awakening  in  its  pathos  and  power. 
God  gave  an  abundant  increase.  We  can  plainly  see,  too, 
how  in  His  wisdom,  He  was  bringing  from  darkness  into 
light  a strong,  influential,  self-reliant  nature — full  of 
energy,  zeal  and  power,  for  the  arduous  and  trying  hard- 
ships and  responsible  duties  of  the  missionary  life  be- 
fore her. 

All  who  knew  her  know  how  well  and  faithfully  she 
performed  her  part  in  the  great  work  here  in  America. 
They  know  with  what  zeal  and  energy,  after  the  death  of 
her  husband,  she  kept  up  meetings,  missionary  societies, 
family  prayer-meetings;  riding  out  long  distances,  hold- 
ing prayer  and  religious  conversations  in  families — en- 
dearing herself  to  old  and  young  alike.  Even  little  chil- 
dren would  run  to  meet  her — to  tell  her  of  their  pet 
schemes;  their  play-houses;  their  birds  and  squirrels — 
as  the  writer  well  remembers  doing  in  his  early  boy- 
hood— in  all  of  which  she  took  a lively  interest;  won  the 
young  hearts  and  then  pointed  them  to  God,  in  His  beauty, 
greatness  and  love — to  Jesus,  his  precious  Son,  “ the  way 
and  the  Life,”  who  died  that  sinful  man  might  live. 
Through  a very  wide  circle  her  influence  for  good  was 
seen  and  felt,  alike  by  young  and  old.  With  her  the  song 
of  the  redeemed  was  always  welling  up  : 


CONVERSION  AND  CHRISTIAN  WORK. 


G3 


“ 1.  Canaibh  do’n  Tigheara’  oran  nuadh, 
gach  aon  tir,  canaibli  dha. 

2.  Seinnibb  do  Dkia  : ainm  beannuicbibh 

nochdaibh  a shlaint’  gach  la. 

3.  Am  meafg  nam  fineach  aineolach 

sior  thaisbeinnibh  a ghloir  : 

Am  measg  nam  poibleach  innisibh 
a mhiorbhuile  ro-mhor. 

f TRANSLATION.  ] 

1 O,  sing  a new  song  to  the  Lord — 

Sing  all  the  earth  to  God. 

2.  To  God  sing,  bless  his  name,  shew  still 
His  saving  health  abroad 

3.  Among  the  heathen  nations 

His  glory  do  declare, 

And  unto  all  the  people  show 
His  works  that  wondrous  are.” 

Beside  her  great  life-work  in  America,  who  can  esti- 
mate the  good  of  her  example  and  teaching  to  her  com- 
panions and  associates  after  her  conversion  in  Scotland. 
There,  as  here,  her  influence  was  great.  Before  conver- 
sion, she  was  the  leader  in  gaiety.  She  was  the  pettied 
child  of  her  family.  Bouyant  and  fun-loving  in  her 
tastes,  lively  and  animated  to  an  unusual  degree,  she  could 
ill  brook  restraint.  The  Light  shone  in  upon  her  dark- 
ened mind,  and  she  was  changed.  Her  companions  saw 
the  marvelous  change;  they  heard  her  melting  words  of 
love  to  God,  and  saw  her  earnest  desire  for  their  salvation 
and  the  salvation  of  all.  As  the  saints  first  distrusted  ihe 
converted  Paul,  from  their  remembrance  of  the  persecut- 


64 


MRS.  CATHERINE  WHITE. 


ing  Saul  of  Tarsus,  so  must  her  companions  have  first 
distrusted  her,  till  they  saw  that  her  whole  mind,  life  and 
strength  was  devoted  to  good,  righteousness,  truth — to 
Jesus  and  His  love.  Then  they  felt  that  there  was  a 
reality  and  a mighty  power  in  the  religion  she  professed. 

Mrs.  White  was  a strong  support  to  her  husband  in  his 
great  work.  She  left  a hallowed  memory  of  a well-spent 
life.  She  was  always  willing  and  ready  to  be  about  her 
Master’s  work.  She  sought  in  everything  His  name’s 
glory  and  the  advancement  of  His  Kingdom,  and  she 
was  ready  at  last,  when  the  bridegroom  came,  with  oil 
enough,  and  her  lamp  trimmed  and  burning.  Now  in 
Heaven — the  beautiful  Zion  of  her  love — she  i-s  forever  at 
Home. 


Date  Due 

^'R  14  1$ 

. 

L.  B.  Cat.  No.  1137 

A06993920Q 


sauaiqn  AijSJOAjun  e>|nQ 


